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Bobby Marks: I'm still in the belief it's Miami because when you look at Giannis Antetokounmpo, it's the superstar checklist of three things that Miami has here: It's the win-now player. When you look at a player like Tyler Herro, remember you've got to get to $47-48 million in salary just to send out. Herro makes $33 million as an expiring contract. Then you look at young players like Kel'el Ware Ware and Jaime Jaquez, two players on rookie deals. And then it's the draft picks. Remember, Milwaukeee's got the 10th pick in the draft. Miami's got the 13th pick in the draft. They can send two future picks in 30 and 32. They've got some swap rights here. So, I do think Miami's got right now the best package out there, but we've got to get some clarity here.
Sam Amick: I think the issue with Minnesota is that they have not been given any indication. There's two things. There's not been any indication that Giannis doesn't want to be there long term, but I don't get the sense that he's giving them the sign that he does want to be there. And that is another thing that as we get closer to draft day, I'm wondering with Giannis and his camp, are they going to step on the scale even more than they have to this point? Because right now, it's kind of a loose framing of like, there's a couple of teams that he would be comfortable with being there long-term. And Miami and Boston definitely appear to be two of them. It's like Minnesota's not off the list, but are they on the list? For them, the stakes are really, really high because if you're talking about putting a guy like Jaden McDaniels in the deal, which he would have to be in it, then we need to know that you're all in, big fella. We need to know that it's Ant and Giannis. And not only that, it's the same thing where you can't have it get reported that you put Jaden on the table, only to have the Bucks just go somewhere else with the deal, and now Jaden, from a human standpoint, just feels kind of less committed to, less connected with his current group, and you might change the vibe in your locker room.
Barry Jackson: I feel safe in saying nobody is going to top a Heat offer if Giannis makes clear he won't sign extension anywhere but Miami. The Bucks then would have 2 options: 1) Succumb and accept Heat's offer. 2). Call Giannis' bluff, keep him and gamble that he won't turn down a 4-year, $275 M extension on Oct. 1. If Giannis signs the extension with the Bucks simply to guarantee more financial security, but then asks for a trade weeks later, it would be very amusing. BUT... the trade market also would open up for the Bucks next summer because he would be signed for 3 years, not 1, and Milwaukee MIGHT be able to get more if he's healthy and great this season.
Barry Jackson: If Giannis signed the Bucks extension Oct. 1 and then asked for a trade, the Bucks could trade him Oct. 1, 2027 (12 months later, before the 2027-28 season). But everybody would just be playing games with each other for a year.
Zach Lowe on Giannis Antetokounmpo: Miami is the frontrunner to me until I hear like concrete evidence that anyone has beaten the offer that has been sitting there for a long time. We don't know exactly what it is. We know that I keep seeing these reports like Milwaukee doesn't love Miami's offer. It's like, really? You don't think they do? He's still on the Bucks. Like, if they loved it, I think this would have been done by now. But I'm not even ruling out like a mystery team that that might jump in. These things can take some unpredictable turns as deadlines approach, and I think a big deadline is approaching. So, I would still brand Miami the front runner, but obviously the Bucks are waiting for more from them, whether they extract it via leverage, whether Miami just decides it we're done we just need to get it done. Because if they liked Miami's offer, he'd be on Miami.
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Heat Central: “Since the day after the season ended for the Heat, I have been saying Giannis is going to be a member of the Heat next season. I’m going to stick with that. I think a trade gets done on draft day. I’m gonna guess the last possible minute, they find a deal and they get Giannis.” — @Anthony_Chiang on his Giannis to Miami prediction.
Speaking of Plan Bs, league sources say the Portland Trail Blazers would have serious interest in Brown if the Celtics made him available. The Blazers have been among the suitors for Antetokounmpo since the February trade deadline but appear to be on the outside looking in at the moment. Also, league sources say the Minnesota Timberwolves — whose pursuit of Antetokounmpo also appears to have cooled — have strong interest in the Celtics’ Derrick White.
Several sources have conveyed that Milwaukee GM Jon Horst has established especially ambitious asking prices in Giannis talks. The word that keeps coming back: "Unrealistic." The Bucks naturally want as much as they can if they're parting with their Face of the Franchise, so what constitutes unrealistic? Sources say Milwaukee has been asking teams for returns that would leave any club acquiring Antetokounmpo too barren to contend for a championship.
Jon Krawczynski: All of this from @sam_amick and @eric_nehm from last week still applies with the Wolves and Giannis. It would be incredibly difficult. But Connelly's aggressive mindset means you can't count them out while he's still available.
In reference to Minnesota's interest in White, which The Athletic's Sam Amick first reported Friday morning, trading him for Rudy Gobert would represent a clear salary match. Sources say that Boston, furthermore, has inquired about Gobert before ... most recently at February's trade deadline.
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To be clear: I don't get the sense that the Bucks don't want Herro. I've actually heard that Milwaukee and Herro have mutual interest. But the Bucks will clearly be trending toward a total reset from the Antetokounmpo Era if they proceed with a trade over the next few days. If they can get additional future assets by shipping Herro to Detroit or elsewhere ... how could they resist?
Sam Amick on Ja Morant: "The only two teams I have heard and I will pick one of them is New Orleans and Sacramento. I will probably push it the New Orleans way."
League sources say that the Pistons' Isaiah Stewart is not merely available but outright bracing for a trade that sends him elsewhere this summer as part of any move that the Pistons make to bolster their shooting and playmaking depth. I'm told veteran forward Tobias Harris, by contrast, is a player Detroit is determined to retain after his solid postseason run. Sources say that the Bucks, furthermore, are Stewart fans.
Darren Wolfson: Another player of interest to the Wolves, per multiple league contacts: Bulls guard Josh Giddey. Just not sure how you pry him out of Chicago, and I like his fit with new coach Tiago Splitter. #WolvesBack #Twolves