It's likely that the Milwaukee Bucks asked the Miami Heat to find a pathway to more draft capital in their counteroffer for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, the Heat are reportedly trying to recruit a third (or fourth) team in an attempt to add more draft capital to their offer for Giannis. And the Heat's chances of landing Giannis before tomorrow's NBA Trade Deadline could very much depend on whether Miami is successful in their pursuits or not.
Trying to beat the trade deadline clock, it won't be impossible for the Heat to try and find other teams to help them appease the Bucks, but it certainly won't be easy.
The Heat need to find more draft capital
There was reporting earlier this week that Milwaukee had made some counter-proposals to teams making offers for Giannis. You'd have to assume that if they made one to the Heat, it probably revolved around finding a path toward more draft capital.
While the Heat may not have the best offer for Giannis at the moment, they don't have the worst. And some of that ground could certainly be made up if the Heat could find a path to add another first-round pick or two to their package.
Whether the Heat will be able to make that happen before the trade deadline is anyone's guess, but they're certainly trying.
If I had to guess, I'd assume the Bucks are open to the idea of Kel'el Ware, Kasparas Jakucionis, Pelle Larsson, and perhaps some salary fillers. After that, the Bucks likely told the Heat to try to shop Tyler Herro and/or Andrew Wiggins to opposing teams to find additional first-round picks.
Right now, the Heat can only legally trade two. But if they could flip Wiggins and/or Herro into one or two more, there's a better chance this deal gets done.
Especially after Jaren Jackson Jr. was traded for prospects and three first-round picks, I can't imagine the Bucks' ownership would be willing to sign off on a deal that only has two first-rounders. That can't happen, and it won't.
That's why it does make a ton of sense that the Bucks counteroffered the Heat with the desire for more draft capital.
Then again, it's almost impossible to tell what's real and what isn't at this point in the trade season. However, if it's any consolation, the end is (hopefully) near. Unless, of course, the Bucks decide to take this circus into the offseason.
If so, we'll do all this song and dance in a few months. But you'd have to think that many of the teams involved, including Giannis, want some sort of resolution now.