‘They Check the 3 Boxes’ — NBA Analyst Reveals Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Partner That Makes Most Sense for Bucks
· Yahoo Sports
The 2026 NBA Draft is rapidly approaching, and all eyes are on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future with the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Miami Heat seemingly remain the frontrunners to acquire the two-time NBA MVP, as Antetokounmpo reportedly wants to be in Miami and the two teams have been talking for some time.
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While the Boston Celtics and other teams are also in the mix, one former NBA executive and current ESPN analyst believes Miami makes the most sense as a trade partner for the Bucks.
Bobby Marks Explains Why the Heat Make the Most Sense
ESPN’s Bobby Marks recently broke down why he keeps landing on the Heat as the team that makes the most sense as a suitor for Antetokounmpo.
“I still think it’s Miami,” Marks said. “They check the three boxes Milwaukee would be looking for. A win-now player with Tyler Herro, the former All-Star… young players on controllable contracts with Kel’el Ware and Jaime Jaquez [Jr.]. Then you look at the draft equity, Miami has the 13th pick in this draft.”
Marks is essentially mapping out the three things that a rebuilding team’s front office prioritizes in a superstar trade. Miami can check all three boxes with their package, and it is why the Heat have reportedly stayed in pole position even as the Boston Celtics have re-entered the conversation in recent days.
The “win-now” piece is Herro, who made his first All-Star team in the 2024-25 season after averaging a career-high 23.9 points, 5.5 assists, and 5.2 rebounds per game while shooting 47.2% from the field across 77 games. Injuries limited him in 2025-26, but he still averaged 20.5 points per game on a strong 60.2% true shooting percentage in 33 games.
The “controllable young players” Marks referenced have shown real growth this season. Jaquez, 25, had a strong bounce-back year, averaging 15.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.7 assists on 50.7% shooting from the field in 75 games.
Ware, who is 22 years old and just finished his second NBA season, averaged 11.1 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks on 53.0% shooting from the field in 77 games.
That draft equity matters just as much as the players. Milwaukee lost significant draft capital in the Damian Lillard trade in 2023, so Miami’s first-rounder would help the Bucks start replenishing their war chest.
Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam made it clear that an Antetokounmpo trade will likely take place by the night of the draft. With that deadline closing in, it remains to be seen if another team can beat out the Heat’s package of Herro, Ware, Jaquez, and the No. 13 pick.