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Jun 23, 2026

Latest Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors: Heat offer wins over Bucks

Story byUSA TODAY SportsUSA TODAY SportsVideo Player CoverSteve Gardner, Casey L. Moore and Kristie Ackert, USA TODAYMon, June 22, 2026 at 12:34 PM UTC·13 min read

Giannis Antetokounmpo is headed to Miami. The Milwaukee Bucks agreed to trade the two-time MVP, along with forward Bobby Portis, to the Miami Heat for a package that includes Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis and draft picks.

The news dropped around 11:50 p.m. ET, ending a day of speculation and just hours before the Bucks' self-imposed deadline for trading Antetokounmpo.

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Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam said last month that he wanted to have the situation with the two-time league MVP settled before the June 23 draft. "Because if Giannis does play somewhere else, we've got to have a lot of assets. That's Jon's (GM Jon Horst) job to do. And if he's here, then you build the team differently," Haslam told reporters May 6.

The Bucks grasped the magnitude of moving the greatest player in franchise history, one who ranks first in points (21,531), rebounds (8,882), assists (4,484), blocks (1,088), triple-doubles (56) and games played (895). So the price to land him wasn't going to be cheap.

Tyler Herro leads Bucks return in Giannis trade

Tyler Herro is the biggest name heading back to the Bucks from the Heat for Giannis Antetokounmpo, though there are already whispers that Milwaukee could turn around trade Herro.

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Herro was drafted out of Kentucky with the No. 13 overall pick in the 2019 draft by the Heat. He was named to the All-Rookie second team after the 2019-20 season, and was the first player born in the 2000s to play in an NBA Finals.

Herro was named NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2022 and went on to sign a four-year, $130 million deal with the Heat. He followed that by leading the Heat to the 2023 NBA playoffs, where he broke his right hand during the first round. He was unable to return in time to help the Heat, who lost in the NBA Finals to the Denver Nuggets.

In 2025, Herro made his first All-Star appearance and won the Three-Point Contest.

Herro played 33 games this past season, averaging 20.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.1 assists. He didn't make his season debut until Nov. 24 as he returned from ankle surgery.

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Giannis Antetokounmpo 2025-26 stats

Though he played just 36 games because of various injuries, Antetokounmpo averaged 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game this past season for Milwaukee. The Greek Freak shot a career-best 62.4% from the field, and his 34.4 points per 36 minutes ranked first in the NBA.

Giannis Antetokounmpo contract details

Giannis is owed $58.5 million in 2026-27 and has a $62.8 million player option for the 2027-28 campaign. He will be eligible to sign an extension with Miami on Jan. 6.

Miami Heat roster

The Heat's updated depth chart after trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis:

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Giannis Antetokounmpo trade details

  • Heat receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis (via TPE)

  • Bucks receive: Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Kasparas Jakučionis, Jaime Jaquez Jr., 2026 first-round pick (No. 13 overall), 2031 unprotected first-round pick, 2033 unprotected first-round pick, 2030 first-round pick swap, 2033 second-round pick.

Giannis heading back to the U.S. as Bucks near trade decision

Giannis Antetokounmpo is on his way back to the United States. The two-time MVP had been spending time overseas, ESPN's Shams Charania reported, and is heading home as Milwaukee closes in on a trade resolution. Antetokounmpo is ready for a deal Charania said whether it lands him in Miami or Boston. Both teams remain his preferred destinations, where he could sign a long-term extension.

Celtics are favorites for Giannis, per NBA Insider

Chris Haynes, Senior NBA Insider of NBA on Prime and NBA.TV, says the Boston Celtics have moved ahead of the Miami Heat in the race for Giannis Antetokounmpo.

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Haynes said Monday night that he believes the deal gets done before Tuesday's NBA Draft, if not sooner.

"From what I am hearing, it sounds like the Boston Celtics are the front runners to land Giannis Antetokounmpo," Haynes said.

He added the Bucks have looked ready to move him in the last 48 hours, a shift from earlier signals that Milwaukee might carry the situation past the draft into free agency.

Bucks have asked for Hugo Gonzalez; Celtics don't want to give him up

Add one more wrinkle to the Giannis sweepstakes.

Marc Stein reported Monday that Milwaukee has asked Boston to include Hugo Gonzalez in any deal for Antetokounmpo. The Celtics don't want to.

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Stein framed it as one of the moving parts in what has become a two-team race between Boston and Miami, not the thing that decides it. As he put it, the Hugo question is one of the variables shaping the Celtics-Heat struggle for the two-time NBA MVP.

Bill Simmons doesn't think it's happening. The Celtics' offer centers on 2024 NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown, but Simmons said on his podcast that he'd be stunned to see Gonzalez thrown into any Giannis package. The whole organization is high on the young guard, he said, with Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens leading the way.

The 20-year-old Spaniard appeared in 74 games as a rookie, averaging 3.9 points and 3.3 rebounds while shooting 47.6% from the field and 36.2% from 3-point range in 14.5 minutes a night.

Bucks mulling over 'final offers' Monday

Looks like a resolution is getting closer.

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League sources familiar with the talks told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel the Bucks' brain trust is weighing its final offers Monday, one day before their self-imposed deadline.

"Giannis Antetokounmpo is willing to sign a long term extension with either Miami or Boston, so the Bucks are working through which path they want to head down to begin a post-Giannis era," they wrote.

Giannis posts cryptic message on trust as trade decision nears

Giannis Antetokounmpo added a new wrinkle Monday evening.

As the Milwaukee Bucks were weighing franchise-altering trade possibilities, Antetokounmpo posted on X: "GOD I trusted you at the beginning and I will continue to trust you throughout."

Bucks front office set to meet with Giannis decision looming

Another indication that the Giannis Antetokounmpo saga may finally break soon.

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"There's a very good chance that Giannis Antetokounmpo gets traded today, and the Bucks' front office will hold a major meeting to make a decision," NBA insider Jake Fischer reported.

With Milwaukee's self-imposed deadline, Tuesday night's NBA Draft, quickly approaching, something has to give eventually in the next 24 hours.

The hold up seems internal with Fischer reporting that Milwaukee's decision-makers split between the two offers. Boston offers Jaylen Brown's star power. Miami offers draft picks and a cleaner way to rebuild.

Heat not backing down on Giannis push

The Miami Heat will try to do everything they can to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks despite the recent push from the Boston Celtics, according to TheSteinLine via Heat Central.

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“I don’t think the Heat are going to say 'well, we gave it a good run.’ The Heat are not going to stop trying until they know that they’ve missed out on Giannis," Mark Stein said via SiriusXM NBA Radio. "It would be devastating for them. They went after KD, they went after Dame, this would be another left at the alter by a star situation. They’re gonna keep trying.”

Bucks debating Celtics vs Heat

ESPN insider Shams Charania was on "The Pat McAfee Show" to weigh in deeper on the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors.

"Bucks executives are literally right now in their offices figuring out which direction they're going to go," Charania said. "Because there are two offers right now that it's come down to at a serious and significant level.

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"That's the Celtics offer, led by Jaylen Brown, who is a superstar, there's other additional pieces of that deal. Or an offer from the Miami Heat that consists of several players – players that you have control over on rookie-scale contracts, guys you can extend at a reasonable number and a surplus of draft capital."

Giannis Antetokounmpo landing spots

USA TODAY Sports' Lorenzo Reyes lists his top five destinations for Giannis if a trade comes together, led by the Miami Heat.

Miami’s offer is pretty clear-cut: Tyler HerroKel’el Ware and other younger players combined with draft assets that include the No. 13 overall selection in this year’s draft. The Heat have been the most active and consistent team in Antetokounmpo talks, going back to the February trading deadline, if not years earlier.

Reyes' top five landing spots, based on fit:

  1. Miami Heat

  2. Orlando Magic

  3. Boston Celtics

  4. Portland Trail Blazers

  5. Cleveland Cavaliers

Giannis landing spots odds

DraftKings updated its most-likely teams for which Giannis Antetokounmpo will be playing his first regular-season minute.

Report: Bucks brass split on Giannis trade offers

Celtics or Heat? Heat or Celtics? According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, "a split faction of Milwaukee’s decision makers, sources say, is deciding between Boston’s package for Giannis Antetokounmpo built around Jaylen Brown" or "Miami’s offer of younger pieces — featuring Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez — and multiple first-round picks." The established MVP candidate versus greater overall value is what this whole saga has boiled down to one day before the NBA Draft."

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Shams: Giannis will be traded before NBA draft

ESPN insider Shams Charania said on "Get Up" on Monday morning that Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to be traded before Tuesday's NBA draft.

"Sources tell me a trade and a resolution is coming for the Milwaukee Bucks with Giannis Antetokounmpo before the NBA draft on Tuesday night," Charania said. "The Bucks are in serious conversations with two finalists: the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics. Both teams are Giannis' preferred trade destinations, but both of these packages are different deals. The variance of these deals is dramatic."

Celtics could trade Jaylen Brown in deal without Giannis

ESPN's Brian Windhorst reports that even if the Celtics don't trade Jaylen Brown in a deal to get Giannis Antetokounmpo, they still might move him.

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"I think the Celtics have taken a hard look in the mirror and they have decided, 'We weren't going to beat the Knicks,'" Windhorst said on "Get Up" on Monday morning.

Windhorst continued: "I am now speculating that if Jaylen Brown doesn’t get traded for Giannis, they may trade him somewhere else. So that is one of the things that has emerged. Now, Miami understands that Jaylen Brown is in there.; they can’t match that. Miami in recent days has gone out to try and recruit third and fourth teams to improve their offer."

Celtics could offer Jaylen Brown in trade

NBA insider Marc Stein reported overnight that the Boston Celtics could offer the Bucks a package headlined by five-time All-Star forward Jaylen Brown.

Warriors out of Giannis trade picture

The Golden State Warriors reportedly made a strong bid for Antetokounmpo at last season's trade deadline, offering a package centered around forward Jonathan Kuminga and guard Jimmy Butler.

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However, sources reportedly told The Stein Line's Jake Fischer earlier this month that the Warriors have not factored into any recent trade talks for Antetokounmpo.

Could Timberwolves be a stealth candidate?

ESPN's Ramona Shelburne agreed with the overall leaguewide consensus that the Heat and Celtics are among the most likely destinations for Antetokounmpo. However, she floated another dark horse team into the mix: the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Shelburne highlighted a potential pairing with guard Anthony Edwards, "who's been successful in the playoffs, but has not gotten over that hump. You're on the clock with a superstar of that caliber in his 20s."

She didn't suggest any players the Bucks might receive in a trade, but added Edwards and Antetokounmpo is "a pairing they have long looked at."

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Giannis Antetokounmpo contract

Antetokounmpo, a 10-time All-Star, signed a three-year, $175.37 million veteran contract extension with Milwaukee on Oct. 23, 2023.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Giannis Antetokounmpo traded. Hottest rumors leading up to late deal

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