If any of the assets that are "on the table" could end up holding up, or at least slowing down the momentum toward a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade for the Miami Heat, it's Pelle Larsson.
That doesn't speak to how great of a player Larsson can be in the future individually, but, more specifically, to how important he could emerge as a primary supporting player next to Giannis and Bam Adebayo for the Heat if such a trade went down.
There are lots of "ifs," "ands," and "buts" that need to be figured out for the Heat, but under the scenario that they figure out how to outbid the rest of the field for Giannis, it will be interesting to see what lengths the front office goes to trying to keep Larsson in Miami.
Heat could view Pelle Larsson worth fighting for
Because, in theory, if there's any player worth haggling over, it might be Larsson.
On paper, Larsson appears to be the perfect role player that a championship-worthy team will need in the next build for the Heat. Larsson is one of those role players who would be willing to fill the gaps. He'd be willing to do all the dirty work.
And, perhaps most importantly, he's a versatile young player who is beginning to blossom at just the right time.
Larsson is playing the best basketball of his career, and could just be scratching the surface of the impact he could make as a supporting role player.
Pelle Larsson is an emerging young supporting player
During his second season as a pro, Larsson averaged 11 points, three rebounds, and three assists per game on 50 percent shooting from the field. Sure, he was somewhat inconsistent with his three-point shot, only connecting at a 32 percent clip.
But you'd imagine that would only improve playing next to a player as talented as Giannis. After all, superstars have this knack of making players around them better.
The future is bright for Larsson, and while he may or may not have the star potential that every team covets in a young prospect, there's no question he has all the intangibles to be a valuable player in the league one day. In fact, in the right role, he may already be there.
That's why the Heat may feel the need to do whatever they can to keep him out of a Giannis deal.
At the same rate, for the very same reasons, that may also be why the Bucks demand him back from the Heat in a deal.
I can't imagine a Giannis deal between the Bucks and Heat is going to hinge on Larsson one way or another, but the Heat may have some extra motivation to keep him in Miami. Unfortunately, that could be a big problem for Milwaukee, which will be looking to squeeze every last asset out of any opposing team in a Giannis trade.
The question is, how much will the Heat stand their ground for Larsson?
Add us as a preferred source on Google