Report: Heat Want To Trade For Giannis Antetokounmpo, Who Doesn’t Want To Play For Pat Riley

According to Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson, the Miami Heat want to trade for Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.

However, Antetokounmpo doesn’t want to play for Heat president Pat Riley. 

“The Miami Heat are eyeing Giannis Antetokounmpo. That part is real,” Robinson wrote. “League sources tell me Pat Riley and the Heat organization have quietly explored scenarios where the two-time MVP could eventually be pried away from Milwaukee — but here’s the twist: I’m hearing Giannis isn’t feeling Pat Riley. And that might be a bigger hurdle than Miami expected.”

LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Jimmy Butler had issues with Riley. Wade and Riley made up in 2018, but James and Butler aren’t said to be on good terms with the Hall of Famer. 

James helped the Heat win back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013. However, Riley’s control over the organization rubbed James the wrong way, so The King left Miami for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the summer of 2014. 

Butler led Miami to the NBA Finals in 2020 and 2023. He requested a trade from the Heat this season and was traded to the Golden State Warriors. Riley and Butler’s relationship got very sour near the end of Butler’s run in South Beach. 

Wade was upset with Riley in the summer of 2016 when he was an unrestricted free agent. The NBA legend left the Heat for the Chicago Bulls after Riley refused to pay him the money he wanted. 

Riley and Wade patched things up when the Heat acquired Wade from the Cavaliers during the 2017-18 season. 

The Bucks will not trade Antetokounmpo unless he requests a trade. Antetokounmpo is a two-time MVP, a one-time Finals MVP, a one-time Defensive Player of the Year and a nine-time All-Star. He has spent his entire career with the Bucks.

Antetokounmpo has career averages of 23.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks. He put up 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.2 blocks per game for the Bucks this season in 67 starts.

Milwaukee has won just one postseason series since winning the championship in 2021 against the Phoenix Suns. 

Meanwhile, the Heat haven’t won a title since 2013.