Doubling down on who the Heat should get if the Giannis chase fails

The best target for the Miami Heat if they strike out on Giannis
Striking out on everybody would waste a year of Bam Adebayo's prime.Mateo Mayorga|
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Miami HeatMilwaukee BucksBoston CelticsThe Miami Heat and Boston Celtics have been fierce rivals on the court and that’s extended to try to acquire the big fish. As ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst said Monday morning on Get Up, both of them have gone all in and he doesn’t know if there’s any going back.
And as of this moment, we don't know which, if either, will get Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Milwaukee Bucks seem torn, even inside their own building, on what direction to go.
The Clippers have been visiting prospects who are projected in the late lottery, per @WindhorstESPN
— Heat Central (@HeatCulture13) June 22, 2026
“Miami and Boston have gone all in here. I don’t know if there’s any going back. Whoever doesn’t get Giannis, what happens next? I started talking to agents and executives, the… pic.twitter.com/TIJRI12vpkIt wouldn’t be the first time the Heat made Tyler Herro available (remember the failed hunt for Damian Lillard), and the same is true for the Boston Celtics and their former Finals MVP, Jaylen Brown because he was bait for Kevin Durant nearly four years ago. A tricky situation may develop if it happens more than once.
Windhorst also informed the public that the Los Angeles Clippers are gathering intel on first-round talent that would fall between the 10th and 15th pick, when they have the fifth.
It seems LAC could be pivoting, which opens an opportunity for one of the losers of the Giannis chase, which goodness willing, is over by the draft. In case Boston loses it, would parting with Brown to get Kawhi Leonard be worth it? Maybe for them, since Brown is five years younger, it makes more sense to keep him and convince him it wasn’t personal.
As for the Heat, they would come out a better team with Antetokounmpo or Leonard, and the latter option would make them relevant at least in the East. Leonard can still be The Terminator at soon to be age 35, and acquiring any difference-making player of this magnitude is a big deal because no squad has consecutively won the conference since the Cleveland Cavaliers did it between 2015-18.
Leonard, who has always missed time due to injuries, has played in 68, 37 and 65 games in the last three years. If the Heat were to get this two-time champion then preserve him properly for the postseason while grabbing one of the spots above the Play-In Tournament, they could have one of their deepest playoff runs since Jimmy Butler carried them.
It’s expected that the Indiana Pacers will be a force to be reckoned with next season, but what if they ain’t? The champion New York Knicks shouldn’t be underestimated, but who knows how much cheap James Dolan refusing to go into the second apron will lower their ceiling?
And as talented as the Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic are, both still have serious questions surrounding their personnel being enough.
The Heat will not have enough to cause playoff mayhem if they roll out the same squad, banking on development and a nice new rookie. Additionally, the prospect of pairing Bam Adebayo with a big-time player who tries harder than Butler in the regular season, is too good to pass up. They have options to be relevant next season, but the real failure would be striking out on everybody, and trying to convince the fans they'll have cap space in 2027.
Published Jun 22, 2026MATEO MAYORGA
Mateo has covered the Miami Heat and the NBA since 2020, including the 2020 Finals through Zoom and the 2023 Finals in person. He also writes for Five Reasons Sports Network about the WNBA and boxing, and can be read at SB Nation’s Pounding the Rock for coverage on the San Antonio Spurs. Twitter: @MateoMayorga23
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'

Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming

Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
