Giannis Antetokounmpo trade to Heat becomes official

The Miami Heat’s new era now begins after Giannis Antetokounmpo’s trade from the Milwaukee Bucks became official.

The Heat sent the Bucks a package featuring guard Tyler Herro, center Kel’el Ware, forward Jaime Jaquez Jr., guard Kasparas Jakucionis, 2026 first-round draft pick Nate Ament, a big man from Tennessee (No. 13 overall), further first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, a pick swap in 2030 and a 2033 second-round selection.

Milwaukee also is sending forward Bobby Portis to Miami to complete a deal that first was reported June 22.

Antetokounmpo posted a farewell video to Milwaukee on social media.

“The city of Milwaukee will always be in my heart,” Antetokounmpo said, in part. “This is my home. And this is a place that I had my kids. My mom is here. My father is here. My brothers played here. It made me the man that I am today. That will never, ever change.”

Bucks general manager Jon Horst released a statement on Antetokounmpo’s successful tenure with the team, while addressing Bucks fans.

“We watched Giannis embrace Milwaukee as his home and forge a connection with Bucks fans that transcended basketball,” Horst wrote. “He became an ambassador for our city around the world and a source of pride for our entire state. … On behalf of our entire organization, please join us in expressing our deepest gratitude to Giannis and his family.”

Antetokounmpo, 31, was the subject of trade rumors for more than a year. He is under contract for 2026-27 with a $58.5 million cap hit and has a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28, according to Spotrac.

The 10-time All-Star played a career-low 36 games in 2025-26 and Milwaukee missed the playoffs for the first time since the 2015-16 season. Antetokounmpo hyperextended his left knee on March 15 and was shut down for the rest of the season, though he feuded with the team regarding his health.

Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to an NBA championship in 2021 and is the franchise’s all-time leader in games played (895), points (21,531), rebounds (8,882), assists (4,484) and blocked shots (1,088).

Herro, 26, averaged 20.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 33 games (28 starts) last season, when he was slowed by multiple injuries. Through seven NBA seasons, he has career averages of 19.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.1 assists.

Ware, 22, logged career highs of 11.1 points and 9.0 rebounds per contest last season in his second NBA campaign.

Jaquez, 25, was the runner-up to the San Antonio Spurs’ Keldon Johnson in Sixth Man of the Year voting last season. In his third NBA campaign, he produced 15.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game, all improvements on his career 12.1, 4.4, and 3.3 figures, respectively.

Jakucionis, 20, contributed 6.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 53 games (12 starts) as a rookie for Miami last season.

The four veteran players headed to the Bucks had played all of their NBA careers with the Heat. – Rappler.com