Nigerian-born Greece international, Giannis Antetokounmpo has finally sealed a huge transfer that takes him from Milwaukee Bucks to join Bam Adebayo at Miami Heat in USA’s National Basketball Association (NBA).
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Sports247 gathered that, despite similar interest in ‘The Greek Freak’ from their NBA rivals, Boston Celtics, Antetokounmpo opted to join The Heat, where fellow-Nigerian-born sensation, Adebayo is already highly rated.
However, the deal that takes Antetokounmpo to Miami comes with several other players also affected, as The Bucks receive a talented young scoring guard in 26-year-old Tyler Herro and two-way post presence of vibrant centre, Kel’el Ware.
Most dramatic among the swaps between both sides is Ware, who was stuck in the shadows behind Adebayo at Miami Heat, but he often stuffed the stats sheet when given playing time, while The Bucks could also create a $25.5m trade exception.
The Bucks are also sending Bobby Portis to Miami as part of the deal, as they will in return receive Ware and All-Star guard Herro, along with energetic forward Jaime Jaquez Jnr and second-year guard, Kasparas Jakučionis.
Milwaukee will also welcome three first-round draft picks (2026, ’31 and ’33), one pick swap (2030) and a 2033 second-round selection, with one of the three first-round picks coming as a No. 13 selection during Tuesday’s NBA Draft.
Incidentally, Boston Celtics were also keen on a deal for Antetokounmpo, for who they gave an offer that included All-NBA forward, Jaylen Brown and two first-round picks, but will now have to look elsewhere to improve their roster.
However, Bucks co-owner, Jimmy Haslem, who also owns the NFL’s Cleveland Browns, ultimately preferred The Heat’s offer, because he was worried Brown would eventually want out, similar to what Myles Garrett did in Cleveland.
A report by Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor adds in part, “The Heat gutted their depth and draft capital to acquire Antetokounmpo, but will field what projects as one of the most formidable defensive front lines in NBA history in return.
“Antetokounmpo is a former Defensive Player of the Year. The trade culminates more than a year of speculation that the two-time MVP and franchise stalwart wouldn’t finish his career with the Bucks team that drafted him.
“It arrives on the heels of a 32-50 season in Milwaukee in which the Bucks finished nine games out of the playoffs. Antetokounmpo and Adebayo have 11 All-Defensive Team selections between them.”
