NBA rumors: Why Bucks ownership backed out of Heat trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannis Antetokounmpo could have been a member of the Miami Heat today had things gone just a bit differently in February.

According to ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania, the Milwaukee Bucks fielded calls from more than a dozen teams and had serious conversations with a few, including nearly pulling the trigger on a trade that would have sent Antetokounmpo to Miami. However, shortly before the trade deadline, Milwaukee nixed a potential deal with the Heat.

“As deadline day grew close, Minnesota and Golden State began to sense that Milwaukee was keeping Antetokounmpo, and both moved on to completing other deals,” Charania wrote. “Team sources said the Bucks seriously considered the Heat’s offer, which centered on Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, other players and multiple draft picks and pick swaps. Milwaukee contemplated moving forward with Miami on Feb. 4. Ownership, however, believed the best move would be to hold on to Antetokounmpo and receive better offers in the summer. The Bucks informed the Heat on the morning of Feb. 5 that they would not accept a deal.”

The Bucks hung on to Antetokounmpo, but the relationship between the organization and its longtime star has seemingly deteriorated in the two months since then.

As the regular season comes to a close and with Milwaukee out of playoff contention, Antetokounmpo is claiming that the Bucks are intentionally keeping him out of games while healthy. Antetokounmpo, 31, has played a career-low 36 games this season as a result of multiple alleged injuries, including a bone bruise in his left knee that he suffered last month.

Antetokounmpo has two more guaranteed years left on his deal, worth a combined $121.2 million, including the $62.8 million player option for the 2027-28 season that will give him considerable leverage heading into what should be an eventful offseason.

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