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Head coach Erik Spoelstra of the Miami Heat reacts in the first half of the game against the Orlando Magic at Kia Center on October 22, 2025 in Orlando, Florida.
The Miami Heat have reportedly emerged as the top backup option for Giannis Antetokounmpo if the Milwaukee Bucks star is unable to land with his desired destination, the New York Knicks.
According to The Athletic’s Sam Amick, Antetokounmpo could be keen on a move to the Heat due to their strong culture and Erik Spoelstra’s team’s winning start (14-11) in the 2025-26 season.
“Miami, to me, is pretty interesting,” Amick told FanDuelTV’s “Run it Back” on Tuesday when asked about the top landing spot for the two-time MVP.
“Because we know their culture and appetite to get star players, especially at a time when they’re not at title-contending status. But they got a lot of good things going for them,” Amick said of a potential Giannis to Miami move.
Miami Heat ‘A Great Fit’
The NBA insider added that the Golden State Warriors were previously viewed as Antetokounmpo’s second preferred destination, but that’s no longer the case. He noted that Antetokounmpo still prefers a move to New York, but will be open to a move to the Heat, given the market size and culture he’ll be walking into.
“Miami is a great fit if the Knicks thing isn’t there,” reported Amick.
“…If the Knicks thing is too hard to execute, he may look at Miami and try to make that work with some of those guys they have,” Amick added.
Heat’s Giannis Trade Pitch
The Ringer’s Zach Lowe recently reported that the Heat could be willing to part with their highly treasured sharpshooting big man Kel’el Ware in a Giannis trade.
Lowe noted that the Heat, who can trade only two first-round picks, could acquire draft capital from other teams to make the best possible offer to Milwaukee. However, he made it clear that the package would have to be built around Ware.
“The negotiations begin and end with Kel’el Ware. If Ware is not in the deal, then we’re just not talking,” Lowe said. “Because Tyler Herro, Andrew Wiggins, that’s cool. Those guys are fine. They’re not keeping me relevant.”
“Ware is making a huge leap,” Lowe added. “He looks like a future potential All-Star player. I don’t think that’s an exaggeration based on how well he’s played lately. The fit with Bam is TBD. And, you know, if you threw Ware, Herro, Rozier, two first-round picks, a bunch of swaps. Other teams can beat that.
Knicks Unwilling to Gut Roster?
Amick’s report comes amid chatter around the league that the Knicks are unwilling to part with core pieces that helped them reach the Eastern Conference Finals last year, marking their deepest playoff run in the 21st century.
According to SNY’s Ian Begley, the Knicks “like their team right now” and won’t be willing to move heaven and earth to bring the “Greek Freak” into the fold.
“They like where they’re at 20-plus games in. They’re excited about what they’ve seen so far,” Begley reported last week after the Giannis trade buzz kicked into high gear.
Also worth noting is that the Knicks can’t move Mikal Bridges before Feb. 1, 2026, which complicates a potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trade.
Despite their reported hesitance to gut the roster for Antetokounmpo, the Knicks (+300) remain the betting favorites to pull off a Giannis trade, per DraftKings, followed by the San Antonio Spurs (+450), Atlanta Hawks (+700), Miami Heat (+900), and Toronto Raptors (+1100).
Sai Mohan covers the NBA for Heavy.com. Based in Portugal, Sai is a seasoned sports writer with nearly two decades of publishing experience, including bylines at Yardbarker, FanSided’s Hoops Habit, International Business Times, Hindustan Times and more. More about Sai Mohan
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