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.
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.
2 days ago
