ESPN expert addresses how Miami Heat can pull off trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo if he chooses to play for them

ESPN expert reveals Heat’s patient approach to roster building, eyeing stars like Giannis and Jokic

ESPN expert Tim Bontemps believes Miami is strategically waiting for the summer of 2027 when several superstars like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic become available.

The Heat want to position themselves for elite talent acquisition rather than settling for incremental improvements.

“I would say the Heat now are waiting to see if they can get a player that’s better than Bam Adebayo,” Bontemps explained.

“And the reason they say the summer of 2027 is that’s when Giannis is a free agent. That’s when Nikola Jokic is a free agent. That’s when Donovan Mitchell can be a free agent. That’s when a lot of these guys can be available.”

“And we’ve seen the Clippers and these other teams talk about we’re going to wait until the summer 2027, to have the ability to do something. I think the Heat are probably going to sit in that space.”

Heat possess sufficient assets for potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trade

Miami already has the pieces necessary for a major trade if opportunities arise earlier than 2027.

Herro becomes a valuable expiring contract asset, while the Heat control at least five first-round picks through 2031 plus several young players.

“And look, if they have the expiring contracts, like Giannis wakes up tomorrow in Greece and says, ‘You know what? I’m done being with the Bucks and I really want to go to Miami.’

“Well, they’ve got a bunch of expiring contracts. They’ve got a guy in town from Milwaukee,” Bontemps said, referring to Herro.

“They can come up with a package with some draft picks and say, ‘We can try to give you something to get Giannis.”

This patient approach likely means Miami will endure mediocre seasons over the next two years while accumulating assets and maintaining salary cap flexibility for their ultimate 2027 pursuit.