Scheduled
Brooklyn Nets at Miami Heat
2026-27 · Preseason · Preseason
Interactive: How the Bucks traded Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Heat, step by step
Scroll through the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade: 13 years in Milwaukee, the decision, everything the Bucks got back, and the money waiting in Miami.
In this article
Giannis Antetokounmpo at the 2018 NBA playoffs. File photo: Keith Allison · CC BY-SA 2.0.WhyNBA Interactive
The Freak goes south
How Milwaukee traded Giannis Antetokounmpo to Miami for Tyler Herro, three young players and a stack of picks, told step by step and by the numbers.
Giannis Antetokounmpo at NBA All-Star Weekend, Feb. 19, 2022. Photo: Erik Drost · CC BY 2.0.Chapter 1
Thirteen years in Milwaukee
The Bucks drafted a skinny 18-year-old from Greece with the 15th pick in 2013. He grew into the best player in franchise history.
He led Milwaukee to the 2021 championship, its first in 50 years.
0MVP awards
0All-Star selections
0All-NBA teams
0NBA title (2021)
His last season in green was cut short. Injuries limited him to 36 games in 2025-26, but he was still devastating when he played.
0points per game
0rebounds per game
0assists per game
0%field-goal pct., best ever by a 25-point scorer
Chapter 2
The decision
By the spring the question was no longer if, but where. Antetokounmpo had one season left on his deal, worth a $58.5 million cap hit for 2026-27 plus a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28.
His camp made it clear he would not sign the extension he became eligible for on Oct. 1. That left Milwaukee with a choice: trade him now, or risk losing him for nothing.
Two finalists emerged: the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat. The Bucks spent months working through every scenario before choosing Miami’s package over a Boston offer built around Jaylen Brown.
- Bucks fire coach Doc Rivers after the season; trade talks heat up
- On the eve of the draft, Milwaukee agrees to send Antetokounmpo to Miami
- Bucks use the No. 13 pick from Miami on Nate Ament
- Trade becomes official
- Antetokounmpo becomes extension-eligible with the Heat
Giannis Antetokounmpo in February 2022. File photo: Erik Drost / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0.Chapter 3
Everything Milwaukee got back
Miami received two players: Antetokounmpo and veteran forward Bobby Portis.
Milwaukee received four players and five draft assets, enough to start over.
0players to Miami
0players to Milwaukee
0first-round picks
0first-round swap (2030)
0second-round pick (2033)
Bucks receive: Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakučionis, the No. 13 pick in 2026 (Nate Ament), first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, a 2030 first-round swap and a 2033 second-rounder.
Heat receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis.
The headliner going north is Herro, a Wisconsin native. He averaged 20.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 33 games last season.
Giannis Antetokounmpo at the 2022 All-Star Skills Challenge. File photo: Erik Drost · CC BY 2.0.Chapter 4
The money in Miami
Antetokounmpo could sign an extension today, but the calendar works in his favor. After Jan. 6, six months after the trade was finalized, his maximum jumps.
Max deal options (millions of dollars)
“I'm a dad. I'm a regular guy. Like I go to Costco and I try to get stuff.”— Giannis Antetokounmpo on settling into Miami
Chapter 5
Tip-off in South Beach
Antetokounmpo turns 32 in December. Over his last three seasons he shot 61.1, 60.1 and 62.4 percent from the field. The efficiency isn’t the question for Miami; health is.
Field-goal percentage, last three seasons
The Heat build around him and Bam Adebayo. The Bucks build around Herro, Ware, Jaquez, Jakučionis, Ament and a pile of future picks.
Miami opens the 2026-27 season at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, Oct. 21.
The deal reshaped two franchises at once. Miami chose a two-time MVP in his 30s; Milwaukee chose youth, depth and time. The first verdict comes on Oct. 21.
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