Q: Ira, I remember we used the Duncan Robinson trade exception to take in Bobby Portis Jr. Are there any plans to use the Haywood Highsmith trade exception before that expires? – Dan.
A: For those unaware, the Heat hold a $5.6 million trade exception from last summer's salary dump of Haywood Highsmith to the Nets, an exception that expires on Aug. 17. The reality is that because the Heat are hard-capped by virtue of the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, they have more exception money at the moment than they can use, now just about $10 million below that hard cap. In addition to the Highsmith trade exception, the Heat have almost $9 million remaining from their mid-level exception and the $5.5 million bi-annual exception. Plus, they can sign players to the veteran minimum without regard to exception money. Worth noting, however, is that exceptions cannot be aggregated. The Heat have multiple means to spend, just not much in total to spend.
Submit your "Ask Ira" question here!
Q: Ira, there is all kinds of stuff all over the internet concerning a three-way trade involving Nikola Jovic, Klay Thompson and a third player. I know I shouldn't believe the internet, but if something like that did happen, would the Heat still be able to add DeMar DeRozan or someone similar? – Rich, Plantation.
A: Yes. In fact, currently at 12 players under standard contract, the Heat, by NBA rule, have to add at least two more players under standard contract (they can, in fact, add three, with the regular-season roster limit of 15 players under standard deals).

#players #expires

Between the trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, the draft, and free agency negotiations starting on June 30, the Miami Heat are keeping themselves busy building a new contender in the East. So what has Miami done so far, and what is next for them?
On June 22, the Miami Heat traded Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakučionis, the No. 13 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, two future first-round picks, a future pick swap, and a future second-round pick for Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis.
This trade marks the beginning of a new Miami Heat, finally pairing a superstar with franchise player Bam Adebayo. Bobby Portis also comes in as a strong backup for the frontcourt duo. A few Heat players have expressed their excitement to play alongside Antetokounmpo. Davion Mitchell, for example, has already been to Greece to work out with Giannis.
Antetokounmpo and Portis sat down for their intro pressers on July 16. Bobby Portis began at 12:30 p.m. and described his excitement in playing for a team he rooted for growing up, "I was born to be a Heatle…my favorite team growing up."
Giannis Antetokounmpo's presser followed at 3:00 p.m. Throughout the presser, he reiterated his work ethic and established his desire to bring championships to the 305, "One of my goals is to win a lot of championships…I think this is the best route for me to do that."

#antetokounmpo #portis

Heat predicted to flip Andrew Wiggins for $411M former MVP, 3-time scoring champion in mega deal originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Miami Heat have been aggressive this offseason, especially early in free agency. Miami is coming off a disappointing season after failing to advance out of the Play-In Tournament.
The Heat made one of the biggest moves of the summer when they traded for former Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
"The Milwaukee Bucks are trading franchise icon Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to the Miami Heat for Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, three first-round picks (including No. 13 in Tuesday's NBA draft), one pick swap and one second-round pick, sources told ESPN," ESPN's Shams Charania wrote.
Miami also pursued LeBron James, but that effort ultimately fell short. The Heat have since shifted their focus toward adding more shooting.

#round

Bobby Portis boldly claims the Miami Heat now have the best frontcourt in the NBA originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
After six years of playing alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo on the Milwaukee Bucks, Bobby Portis will now be playing for the Miami Heat alongside his longtime teammate. This is a huge change for both players, but it seems they could massively improve a team that has needed a frontcourt boost.
Now, the Heat have one of the most promising teams ahead of the 2026-27 season. Giannis steps in as the #1 guy for Erik Spoelstra, but he is not alone because he will be starting alongside Bam Adebayo.
Combining Giannis and Bam in the same frontcourt is already dangerous for most opponents. They will struggle scoring against them because these two are arguably the best defenders in the league.
Offensively, they are also elite, with Giannis standing as the #1 option. Adebayo may not be as explosive as him, but he does have an 83-point game under his belt from the 2025-26 season.

#sporting #best

If you've been a fan of the Washington Commanders for a while, then you've certainly heard of Eastern Motors. You didn't have to live in Northern Virginia to know of Eastern Motors. For over 20 years, Washington players have partnered with Easterns to do commercials ahead of the new season.
Players such as Clinton Portis, Sean Taylor, Santana Moss, Chris Cooley, Kirk Cousins, LaVar Arrington and Terry McLaurin have starred in advertisements. NHL legend Alexander Ovechkin has been a part of the Eastern family, too.
As for McLaurin, he's back to do another commercial for Easterns, now known as Easterns Automotive Group, for 2026. He brought a new partner this time around: rookie linebacker Sonny Styles.
Easterns has multiple locations throughout the DMV, mostly in Maryland. McLaurin and Styles showed up ready for work on Thursday.
In this clip, you hear the famous Eastern Motors jingle in the background as Styles and McLaurin dance. In case you needed a reminder:

#eastern #styles #washington #you 've

Hey Commanders fans, how well do you think Washington has done in having quality NFL running backs?
It will probably surprise many, but the Redskins/Commanders have actually had some of the better NFL running backs at various points of the Super Bowl era (1966-2025). Larry Brown was the 1972 NFL Offensive Player of the Year. That year, he led the NFL in rushing yards per game, averaging 101.3. Brown also led the NFL in rushing yards in 1970.
There was John Riggins, who broke an NFL record with 24 rushing touchdowns in 1983. Riggins wore the Burgundy and Gold for 114 games, rushing for 79 rushing touchdowns. In 1986, George Rogers rushed for 18 touchdowns, helping lead the Redskins to the NFC Championship Game. Earnest Byner in 1989 led all NFL runners in rushing success rate at 60.4. Terry Allen in 1996 led the NFL in rushing touchdowns with 21.
Stephen Davis had three straight seasons over 1,300 rushing yards for Washington from 1999-2001. In that 1999 season, Davis led all NFL runners averaging 100.4 rushing yards a game, and totaling 17 rushing touchdowns. In Coach Marty Schottenheimer's lone season with Washington (2001), he knew what he had in Davis and rode him 356 times (tops in the NFL) for 1,432 rushing yards.
Clinton Portis led the NFL in rushing attempts in 2007 for Washington. Portis had four seasons in Washington rushing for over 1,200 yards (1,315, 1,516, 1,262 and 1487). All Alfred Morris did was rush for over 1,000 yards three consecutive seasons in Washington (2012-2014). Morris is the answer that many Washington fans do not know: Who holds the Washington rushing yards record in a single season?' Yes, it was Morris, who rushed for 1,613 yards in that 2012 season. At age 33 in 2018, Adrian Peterson rushed for 1,042 yards, maintaining an impressive 4.2 yards per carry.

#yards #davis #season #seasons

This year, Kel'el Ware is walking around Las Vegas during summer league in Milwaukee Bucks gear after the Heat included him as part of a trade package to acquire two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and veteran forward Bobby Portis this offseason. "I mean, I kind of figured [the trade] was going to happen," Ware said to two South Florida newspapers, including the Miami Herald, on Friday while watching the Bucks and Heat face off in a Las Vegas Summer League game. "So I was just preparing myself. It was everywhere. Speaking with my agents and things like that, you kind of get the gist of what's going to happen."
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Kel'el Ware addresses trade to Bucks

The timing of a Miami Heat video of Bam Adebayo surprising new teammate Bobby Portis with some playful roughhousing was absolutely wild considering the news that broke later in the day on Friday.
"Don't think chemistry will be an issue between these two," the Heat X (Twitter) account posted with a crying-laughing emoji, some hours before word came through Adebayo apparently punched former teammate Tyler Herro during a physical altercation in Las Vegas.
Old video of Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro adds sad irony to Vegas fight
Fans filled the "quote-tweets" with plenty of ironic responses to this quick video hitting right before the Adebayo-Herro news. You can't always time these things well, but this was just on another level of wild with when it was posted and what happened after that.
Herro has issued a "no comment" over the incident.

Miami Heat captain Bam Adebayo reportedly got into a physical altercation with former teammate Tyler Herro in which Adebayo allegedly struck Herro.
According to ESPN, the incident took place at a practice court on Friday, July 10 in Las Vegas — the site of the NBA's Summer League showcase — when Adebayo approached Herro about a critical social media post Herro recently made. Per the report, Adebayo struck Herro near the face.
A spokesperson for the Heat told USA TODAY Sports in a text message that the franchise is aware of the matter but is not commenting further.
Later Friday, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel spoke to Herro, who told the outlet: "My only comment is no comment."
Herro was part of the June 23 trade package that shipped Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Heat. Miami also received Bobby Portis and sent Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakučionis, three first-round picks, a second-round selection and a pick swap to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Former Tennessee basketball star Nate Ament finally made his summer league debut for the Milwaukee Bucks on July 10 in Las Vegas, and it came against the Miami Heat, the team that briefly held his draft rights before it was included in the trade that sent Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis Jr. to Miami.
The No. 13 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft sat out the California Classic in Sacramento last week. He was seen on the Bucks' bench, but the trade with Miami wasn't finalized until July 6, keeping him off the official roster.
The Bucks lost 119-86, though they led 31-26 after the first quarter, with Ament scoring four points. He finished with six points, three rebounds and two ****** ists in 17 minutes.
Ament's first points came two feet from the basket, dunking over Heat center Vladislav Goldin on a feed from Bogoljub Marković. He added a second slam and knocked down a 19-footer off the dribble using a Jesse Edwards screen.
He also set up teammate Pete Nance for two 3-pointers before exiting for good with 5:48 left in the third quarter.

LAS VEGAS — Seated just a few inches from the Thomas & Mack Center’s baseline, arguably the best seat in the house for AJ Dybantsa’s Summer League debut, Paul Pierce’s inquiry was a mixture of bewilderment and excitement.
“He already got his own shoe?” the Hall of Famer asked, referencing the pair of metallic silver Nike GTs Dybantsa was wearing. “God****!”
A few minutes later, as the No. 1 pick dribbled from the logo Thursday, plowing through four defenders like prime Clinton Portis en route to a thunderous slam — with the entire building erupting in awe — Pierce’s questions had been answered.
The hype, real. The wait, warranted.
“That looked like [No.] 1 to me! That looked like 1 to me!” Pierce screamed, leaping from his seat like the thousands of other onlookers. It took just 12 minutes for the 48-year-old to get his money’s worth, heading for the exits while repeatedly stating he had seen enough from the highly anticipated showdown.

The Mayor had one last meet-and-greet with his constituents.
Bobby Portis, who had sky-high approval ratings during his six-season run with the Milwaukee Bucks, set up in a pop-up shop at the HYPEBOYS streetwear store on Wisconsin Ave. for three hours on July 8.
Predictably, fans lined up in their No. 9 jerseys and “Bobby! Bobby! Bobby!” t-shirts for over a hour before Portis arrived in a Mercedes SUV. They were also quick to scoop up some of Portis’ Underdog gear before he leaves town for good. “The People’s Champ” – a key emotional piece in the Bucks’ 2021 NBA championship run – is on the move to the Miami Heat as part of the massive trade that included Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“Just fan appreciation,” Portis said in between signing items. “Obviously being somewhere so long, especially six years in a community that you called your own.
“Kind of wanted just to send it out the right way. Obviously when you change teams and things like that it’s a new era.”

Greg Jackson believes GableSteveson has the potential to redefine mixed martial arts.

The 26-year-old Olympic heavyweight wrestling gold medalist is setto make his debut in the Ultimate Fighting Championship at UFC 329 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on July 11. Ahead of hisfight against ElishaEllison, his coach has hyped up what he's capable of.
Steveson won Olympic gold in heavyweight wrestling at the TokyoGames in August 2021 and subsequently flirted with the idea ofjoining the UFC. He turned pro last year and, under the mentorshipof JonJones, has extended his overall mixed martial arts record to3-0, winning every fight via first-round finish.

Expectations are sky-high for Steveson as he prepares to make hisOctagon debut and coach Jackson believes the Olympian could emergeas a transformational figure in the sport.

"I think, if you're a fan, you're gonna need to tune in to see whatcan this guy do," Jackson said about Steveson on the UFC 329"Embedded" video series. "He already won the Olympic gold medal atheavyweight in wrestling. That is so hard to do, I can't even tellyou. Where is the ceiling? What can he accomplish? What can hedo?"

Jackson, who has coached some of UFC's biggest names, includingGeorges St.Pierre, RashadEvans, Holly Holm,and Jones, further said about Steveson, "I've worked with most ofthe greatest fighters to ever do this game, and his athleticability is unprecedented… The way he thinks about things, how smarthe is, how coachable, you need to tune in now to see where theceiling for this guy is. He might be redefining what this sportis."

Your Miami HEAT announced today that they have acquired NBA Champion, Two-Time NBA MVP and 10-time NBA All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo and NBA Champion Bobby Portis Jr. from the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Tyler Herro, Kasparas Jakučionis, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware, three first round picks (2026, 2031 & 2033), a 2030 first round pick swap and a 2033 second round pick. “The announcement of today’s trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis Jr. is one of the great trades in HEAT history,” said HEAT President Pat Riley. “In my opinion, Giannis is one of the top five players in the league and Bobby is one of the best power forwards. The difficult part is trading Tyler, Kasparas, Jaime and Kel’el who have given so much to this organization, we wish them nothing but the best. I also want to thank the Arison’s for their continued pursuit towards winning a championship and we feel this gives us a better opportunity moving forward. I want to welcome Giannis and Bobby to the Miami HEAT family.”
NBA.com
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Pat Riley on Giannis Antetokounmpo trade: One of the great trades in Heat history, Giannis is a Top 5 player in the league

RTB Roundup: Episode 32
The Milwaukee Bucks officially closed the Giannis Antetokounmpo chapter last week when they sent the two-time MVP and Bobby Portis to the Miami Heat in one of the biggest trades in years.
Antetokounmpo spent 13 seasons in Milwaukee and brought the franchise its first ****** le in 50 years, but after a 32-50 finish that left the Bucks 11th in the Eastern Conference and out of the postseason for the first time since 2016, the split felt inevitable.
The relationship between the star and the organization had been falling apart for months, and when the deal came together on the eve of the 2026 NBA Draft, ****** ody was caught off guard.
The return was real and gives Milwaukee a foundation to build on.

It's peak NBA rumor season.
Now that the NBA draft has passed, it's on to that dead-period before free agency officially begins. As teams negotiate potential deals and make calls about available players, there's naturally been a bunch of rumors going around.
Free agency begins on June 30 at 6 p.m. ET, and any trades or deals can officially be consummated on July 6, when the league's moratorium ends.
The Miami Heat ****** erted themselves with a blockbuster move for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to join Bam Adebayo in South Beach. The Minnesota Timberwolves sent out Naz Reid but added LaMelo Ball, pairing him with Anthony Edwards. The move comes after they were able to acquire Ayo Dosunmu in a trade with the Chicago Bulls.
The NBA champion New York Knicks expressed desire to avoid the second apron, but re-signed the hometown veteran guard Jose Alvarado, while the Oklahoma City Thunder extended big man Isaiah Hartenstein to a three-year, $75 million contract.

Milwaukee glowed in green Tuesday night, June 23, as a tribute to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis Jr. after the Milwaukee Bucks traded them to the Miami Heat.
Over a dozen city landmarks lit up to honor their contributions to Milwaukee during their time on the Bucks. For many, the players' dedication to Milwaukee went far beyond the championship and memories.
The tribute united several corners of the city with a Bucks-colored spirit that couldn't be ignored.
The Hoan Bridge, Hyatt Residency Milwaukee, Lakefront Brewery, Milwaukee County Courthouse and the Mitchell Park Domes were joined by other buildings across Milwaukee:
1522 on the Lake

The Miami Heat selected Tennessee forward Nate Ament with the No. 13 pick in the NBA Draft Tuesday night.
But that's a pick that belongs to Milwaukee, and Ament is slated to be a Buck.
The trade's not official yet. But the Heat shipped the No. 13 pick as one of three first-round selections they traded to the Bucks in Monday's blockbuster deal to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Bucks received a haul from the Heat to part with the two-time MVP and Bobby Portis. In return, Milwaukee reportedly got All-Star guard Tyler Herro, center Kel'el Ware, forward Jaime Jaquez Jr., second-year guard Kasparas Jakučionis, one pick swap (2030) and a 2033 second-round selection in addition to the three first-round picks. The other two first-round picks will come in 2031 and 2033.
But the Bucks can start their rebuild immediately with Ament and Arizona guard Brayden Burries, whom they selected with their own first-round pick at No. 10.

"Bob-by, Bob-by, Bob-by."
Any Milwaukee sports fan has heard the chants over the past five years, an homage to Bobby Portis Jr., the self-identifying underdog who provided the backbone – and the electricity – to a championship run in 2021.
It seems almost cruel that Portis would become a footnote on one of the biggest transactions in Wisconsin sports history, merely the undercard in the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade to Miami. Their joint departure means no other players from the ***** le-winning team in 2021 still play for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Portis hoisted a custom-made WWE-style ***** le belt at the championship parade celebration that summer, perfectly embodying the "people's champ" ethos. In his hometown of Little Rock, Arkansas, he was handed a key to the city a month later, with Aug. 15 declared "Bobby Portis Day." At some point, he also became the unofficial Mayor of Milwaukee.
"When you're an underdog, you need one little thing to light a fire under you," Portis once told the Journal Sentinel. "Somebody could tell me that 'oh yeah, he's not going to do that' so I'm fired up for the season to try to prove to you I can do that. It takes one little thing for me to hear or read. If a player said that he's not reading what people say to him or this and that, he's probably lying. I do. I read all those for motivation to keep me going."

The Miami Heat have emerged victorious in the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes. Pat Riley’s culture-based team will now enter 2026-27 with renewed energy and the belief that they can bring another NBA ******* le to South Beach. Reaching the top of the mountain and hoisting a Larry O’Brien is a very reasonable goal considering the athletic, dynamic lineup Erik Spoelstra will be able to trot out there.
Antetokounmpo is the centerpiece of a fairly complex deal. The two-time MVP is headed to the Heat along with Bobby Portis. In exchange the Milwaukee Bucks will receive Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jacquez Jr., Kasparas Jakučionis, three first round picks, one pick swap and a future second-round pick. Both rosters will be significantly shaken up and reset.
The Heat will now pair Antetokounmpo with Bam Adebayo to create one a pretty special front court duo. Veterans Andrew Wiggins and Norman Powell will likely be joined by Davion Mitchell in the starting lineup.
Center: Bam Adebayo
Power forward: Giannis Antetokounmpo

Heat Central: Khris Middleton has already been linked to the Miami Heat, per WindhorstESPN. “One guy that I already heard attached to them is Khris Middleton. Who obviously has a long history with Giannis and Bobby Portis… I don’t think you’re looking at the Heat instantaneously as ***** le contenders”
x.com
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: “One guy that I already heard attached to them is …

Insider Reveals Reasoning Behind Bucks Choosing Heat Over Celtics originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Boston Celtics and Miami Heat were the two finalists for Giannis Antetokounmpo in his trade sweepstakes, and the Milwaukee Bucks sent him to Miami on Monday night.
The Heat gave up Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, three first-round picks, one pick swap and one second-round pick in exchange for Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis. According to NBA insider Shams Charania, the Celtics offered a package featuring Jaylen Brown and two first-round picks.
With the Celtics' offer, the Bucks could have had a superstar player in Brown and perhaps remained relevant next season, while also adding two first-round picks. However, with the Heat's offer, they get another lottery pick for Tuesday night and some young players. NBA insider Shams Charania explained the reasoning behind the Bucks accepting the Heat's offer.
“The Bucks chose the Heat's offer in order to bring more flexibility and big-picture approach with controlled contracts and long-term competitiveness for new coach Taylor Jenkins to imagine the next generation of Milwaukee -- versus a veteran, win-now superstar player-led package that places the immediate focus on the present. Horst and Heat general manager Andy Elisburg finalized the agreement on Monday night.”

After months of waiting and a late surge from the Boston Celtics, it finally happened. The Miami Heat acquired Giannis Antetokounmpo the night before the 2026 NBA Draft in a deal sending reverberations throughout the East.
The Milwaukee Bucks are getting quite a hefty return for their two-time MVP (along with his pal Bobby Portis): Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, the 2026 No. 13 pick, unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, a 2033 second-rounder and a 2030 first-round pick swap.
So, the Heat will have some work to do to build around Giannis since it lost much of its depth. Here's where they can start, putting aside the possible futures of Andrew Wiggins and Norman Powell for now.
A South Florida native and the son of Heat legend Tim Hardaway, this fit goes far deeper than the hardwood. Hardaway is coming off an age-33 season in which he shot 40% from 3 and finished third in Sixth Man of the Year voting. He could start or come off the bench for a Heat team that suddenly has a bit of a **** ing issue.
Sexton could be a solid source of instant offense off of Miami's bench. He provides a more ball-dominant presence than Davion Mitchell and Dru Smith, the Heat's primary point guards, and the Heat could value that considering its lack of shot creation among the reserves.

June 23 (UPI) -- The Milwaukee Bucks agreed to trade two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat through a six-player deal that also involves six draft picks.
Sources told ESPN, The Athletic and the Miami Herald that the Bucks agreed to send Antetokounmpo and forward Bobby Portis to the Heat in exchange for guard Tyler Herro, center Kel'el Ware, guard Kasparas Jakucionis, forward Jaime Jaquez Jr., two unprotected first-round picks in the 2031 and 2033 NBA Drafts, the No. 13 overall pick in 2026, a pick swap in 2030 and a second-round pick in 2033.
Antetokounmpo, 31, averaged 24.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 5.0 ***** ists per game over 13 seasons in Milwaukee, including the Bucks' 2020-21 championship run.
He averaged 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 ***** ists over 36 appearances last season, when he missed time due to a knee injury. The No. 15 overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft is under contract for $58.4 million in 2026 and has a $62.7 million player option in 2027, but is expected to sign an extension with the Heat.
Portis, 31, averaged 12.1 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.3 ***** ists per game over his first 11 seasons in the NBA. He logged 13.6 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.4 ***** ists over the last six years in Milwaukee. Portis averaged 13.7 points per game last season. He is under contract for $14.5 million in 2026-27 and has a player option of $15.5 million available in 2027-28.

ESPN picks a clear winner in Giannis Antetokounmpo trade between Bucks, Heat originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The NBA world is still processing one of the biggest trades in league history. Just days before the 2026 NBA Draft, the Miami Heat landed two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo in a blockbuster deal that instantly reshaped the Eastern Conference. The trade sent Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to Miami, while the Milwaukee Bucks received Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, three first-round picks, a pick swap and a second-round pick.
At first glance, many fans viewed the deal as a massive victory for Miami. After all, Pat Riley landed one of the best players in basketball and immediately transformed the Heat from a play-in team into a legitimate contender.
ESPN, however, saw things a little differently.
In ESPN's post-trade ****** ysis, Zach Kram awarded Milwaukee a B+ grade while giving Miami a B-. That difference made one thing clear: ESPN believes the Bucks came away with the stronger side of the deal.

The biggest trade of the NBA summer and one of the biggest in recent memory went right about midnight on Monday going into Tuesday. Giannis Antetokounmpo, the two-time MVP, one-time Finals MVP and champion, 10-time All-Star and nine-time All-NBA pick, was traded from the Bucks to the Heat along with Bobby Portis for Tyler Herro, Jamie Jaquez, former IU center Kel'El Ware, Kasparas Jakucionis, three first-round picks, one pick swap and a second-rounder. Among the first-rounders is the Heat's No. 13 pick in the 2026 draft according to the report from ESPN's Shams Charania.
Charania reported that the Celtics tried for Antetokounmpo with a package that included All-NBA wing Jaylen Brown and two first-round draft picks, but Miami ultimately had more draft capital it could move as the Bucks commit to a full rebuild.
Considering the options, the Pacers couldn't have asked for a much better outcome. It would have been better for Indiana if the Bucks were able to ship Antetokounmpo to the Western Conference but that wasn't on the table. Given that, it helps the Pacers that he's out of their division, that one of their division rivals is entering a full-rebuild, and that Antetokounmpo didn't go to Boston to build a Death Star with Jayson Tatum as the Celtics might have been able to claim the top two players in the Eastern Conference.
Miami immediately becomes a contender with Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo as the center pieces, but they're not necessarily a complete team and there's a lot they have to do to build around those two. At some point, the Heat probably win a ***** le with those two, but there's still a window for the Pacers and they can compete with that group with the players they have. In a sense, they dodged a bullet in a trade discussion they weren't involved in.
Dustin Dopirak covers the Pacers all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Pacers Insider newsletter.

Tyler Herro breaks silence on joining Bucks after Heat's Giannis Antetokounmpo trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
After plenty of speculation about the Milwaukee Bucks moving on from Giannis Antetokounmpo, the two sides have finally parted ways. The deal sent Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to the Miami Heat for Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, three first-round picks (including No. 13), a pick swap, and a second-rounder
While Herro isn't the most exciting player in the deal -- far from it -- he does give the Bucks a player who grew up in Wisconsin.
According to the latest report, the former Heat guard is excited for the opportunity.
"Sources: Tyler Herro is thrilled about a fresh start and playing for his hometown team the Milwaukee Bucks. Herro always envisioned returning home at some point during his NBA career," Chris Haynes reported.

Oh No He Didn't: "Just talking to people in South Beach tonight: They're very happy that they got Bobby Portis in this trade. They're really excited about how he's gonna fit in with that lineup" - ramonashelburne
x.com
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: "Just talking to people in South Beach tonight: …

Well, to the delight of many basketball fans, the Giannis Antetokounmpo saga has finally reached its conclusion. According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player is headed to Miami, along with Bobby Portis. In exchange, the Bucks receive four players and multiple draft picks as the franchise embarks on a rebuild. Below is a look at how this transaction will affect fantasy basketball in 2026-27.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Bobby Portis
Antetokounmpo is the centerpiece of this trade, as he joins the list of marquee players that lead executive Pat Riley has acquired via trade or free agency since joining the franchise in 1995. When healthy, Giannis is one of the most dominant players in the NBA, and he can offer top-10 fantasy value to those willing to ignore the poor free-throw percentage. However, he was limited to 36 games last season and has not advanced past the first round of the playoffs since 2022.
One question for Miami with this move is how the partnership between Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo will work out, given that neither offers much in the way of floor ***** ing. Their respective fantasy values should be fine, but that may be an issue for some of the other Heat players in Erik Spoelstra's rotation.
Re-signing Norman Powell takes on added importance because of his shooting ability, and a return to Miami could raise his fantasy ceiling. Andrew Wiggins, who shot a career-high 41.4 percent from three last season, may see.his usage take a hit, but there may be more catch-and-shoot opportunities for him. And while he has not been the most consistent perimeter shooter since entering the league, Davion Mitchell's steals production may receive a boost with him playing in a lineup that has two potentially dominant defenders.

Lakers get encouraging Giannis Antetokounmpo multi-team trade news after Heat deal originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Milwaukee Bucks have finally ended the Giannis Antetokounmpo era after 13 seasons.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Bucks are shipping Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to the Miami Heat for Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, three first-round picks, one pick swap, and one second-round pick.
In the days leading up to the monster deal, there were riveting rumors that the Los Angeles Lakers could be a part of a multi-team Antetokounmpo-focused deal that would land them a talented frontcourt contributor (like Myles Turner or Isaiah Stewart).
While that’s not how things played out on Monday night, Charania noted that the biggest trade of the offseason thus far could involve additional teams before it's finalized in July.