Mailbag: What’s Plan B for the Heat if there’s no trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo?
The Miami Herald’s Heat mailbag is here to answer your questions. If you weren’t able to ask this time, send your questions for future mailbags via X (@Anthony_Chiang). You can also email them to achiang@miamiherald.com
@Saint_Dev707: Miami is always known to be focused on that one superstar and miss out on other good players who sign for much lower than expected in the offseason. Do you expect that to be the case again this year with them locked in on Giannis and his decision?
Anthony Chiang: After missing the playoffs for the first time since 2019 this past season, the Heat’s front office knows a star is needed to get things back on track. And the Heat’s front office won’t do anything that’s going to jeopardize its ability to land a star this offseason or in future offseasons.
So, yes, the Heat’s top objective this offseason is to find a way to trade for Milwaukee Bucks two-time NBA MVP and nine-time All-NBA forward Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason. If the Heat comes up empty, it will go after any other stars who may become available this summer.
But the Heat appears to be leaning against committing any long-term salary to non-All-Star talent this offseason just to make lateral moves or an incremental improvement. Why?
If the Heat can’t acquire Giannis or another star this offseason, it wants to preserve max-level cap space for the 2027 offseason as part of its continued pursuit of a superstar addition. The only players who the Heat currently has signed to guaranteed contracts for the 2027-28 season are Bam Adebayo ($53.5 million salary for 2027-28) and Nikola Jovic ($14.9 million), with the 2027-28 salaries of first-round selections Kel’el Ware ($7.1 million) and Kasparas Jakucionis ($4 million) also expected to eventually become guaranteed.
Among the players who could become free agents during the 2027 offseason are stars Giannis, Nikola Jokic and Donovan Mitchell. While stars rarely hit free agency in today’s NBA, the threat and flexibility of a team holding max-level salary cap space can help facilitate a trade for such a player.
One thing that may help the Heat have some clarity on the Giannis front ahead of free agency this summer is the fact that Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam suggested recently that the Bucks would like to make a decision on Giannis’ future with the organization by the June 23-24 NBA Draft.
@BruceBuckets: Is there a Plan B?
Anthony: As previously stated, if no Giannis, Plan B for the Heat this offseason will be pivoting to other stars who may become available on the trade market.
But if no stars are acquired this offseason, Plan C for the Heat is preserving max-level cap space for the 2027 offseason.
Plan A remains Giannis.
@erifresh1: Is anyone asking anything but Giannis Antetokounmpo questions?
Anthony: As you can see with the first two questions used in this edition of the mailbag, the answer is no. Giannis questions are very popular right now, and those questions will keep coming until the Bucks either make it clear they’re keeping Giannis or a Giannis trade actually happens.
Then the questions will shift to the next star who could become available.
