NBA Rumors: Heat, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Clippers, Kawhi Leonard, Nets

Heat

The Heat continue to be one of the teams most frequently linked to Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo.

According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, Miami remains a potential suitor after previously engaging Milwaukee in trade discussions before the deadline. Those talks reportedly centered around a package involving Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, draft compensation and additional players.

The question now is whether the Heat believe a blockbuster move is necessary after another play-in appearance and a second straight disappointing finish.

Miami owns the No. 13 pick in this month’s draft and enters the summer with flexibility, but Pat Riley‘s biggest decision may be whether to make another aggressive push for Antetokounmpo.

The Heat also have extension decisions looming involving Herro and Jaime Jaquez Jr., while veteran scorer Norman Powell is headed toward free agency.

Clippers

The Clippers finally appear to have a clearer direction.

After moving James Harden and Ivica Zubac during the season, Los Angeles got younger, added draft assets and positioned itself for future flexibility.

That doesn’t necessarily mean Kawhi Leonard is headed elsewhere.

In fact, team president Lawrence Frank recently reiterated the organization’s commitment to building around the former Finals MVP.

Leonard is entering the final year of his contract and becomes extension eligible after the NBA Finals. The 35-year-old remains highly productive, averaging 27.9 points while appearing in 66 games this season.

Still, questions remain about how much longer the Clippers want to center their plans around an aging superstar.

Nets

The Nets spent the past two seasons accumulating assets. Now comes the next phase.

Brooklyn enters the offseason with the sixth overall pick, significant cap space and one of the NBA’s deepest collections of future draft assets. Unlike recent years, the Nets have little incentive to tank moving forward.

One of the biggest questions surrounds Michael Porter Jr., who averaged a career-high 24.2 points after arriving from Denver and is now extension eligible.

The Nets also must determine whether young forward Noah Clowney has shown enough to become part of the franchise’s long-term plans.

After years of rebuilding, Brooklyn finally appears positioned to start thinking about winning again.