The headline “Heat can forge monster Giannis trade offer with just one more move: Trade Andrew Wiggins for an additional first-rounder to offer in a trade” taps into the high-stakes drama surrounding the Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo as the NBA trade deadline looms on February 5, 2026, at 3 p.m. ET. With the Bucks actively fielding offers amid reports that Giannis is “ready for a new home” (though he publicly reaffirmed his desire to retire in Milwaukee as recently as early February), the Miami Heat have emerged as one of the four primary suitors alongside the Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, and Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Heat’s pursuit is driven by Pat Riley’s long-standing vision of pairing a dominant two-way force like Giannis with their culture of defense, grit, and playoff success. Miami has already made strong pitches, but league insiders note growing skepticism about their chances compared to the Warriors (who reportedly have the “best offer” per ESPN’s Brian Windhorst) or the Timberwolves (where Giannis finds playing with Anthony Edwards “extremely compelling”). The key limitation for Miami? Draft capital. The Heat are notoriously pick-poor due to past deals (e.g., for Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro’s extensions, and other moves), with their own first-round picks often deferred, swapped, or protected far into the future.
This is where the suggested “one more move” comes in: flipping Andrew Wiggins—acquired by Miami in a prior blockbuster (likely the Jimmy Butler-to-Warriors swap)—to acquire an additional first-round pick that could be packaged into a Giannis offer. Here’s a deep dive into why this strategy could work, the realities of the current landscape, potential trade frameworks, and the broader implications.
The Heat’s Current Giannis Pursuit and Asset Crunch
Miami has been linked to Giannis since at least 2020, viewing him as the ultimate upgrade to complement Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro (if included), and a supporting cast built for contention. Recent reports from ESPN (via Shams Charania and insiders Zach Kram/Kevin Pelton) outline hypothetical Heat packages that typically include:
- Young talent like Herro, Kel’el Ware, or Jaime Jaquez Jr.
- Veterans such as Terry Rozier or Duncan Robinson for salary matching.
- Whatever future picks Miami can muster (e.g., 2029 first, 2031 first, 2030/2032 pick swaps).
One ESPN-proposed framework: Heat get Giannis (and perhaps Thanasis for family reasons); Bucks get Herro, Ware, Rozier, multiple firsts, and swaps. But Milwaukee wants “young, bluechip talent and/or a surplus of draft picks,” and Miami’s pick supply is thin—often limited to one or two movable firsts without heavy protections.
Insiders like Brett Siegel (ClutchPoints) highlight skepticism around Miami’s bid, noting the Heat are “trying to improve their offer” but trailing the Warriors’ aggressive package (Draymond Green, Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski, and multiple firsts). The Bucks may also prefer rerouting high-salary pieces like Green via third teams, complicating two-way deals.
Why Trading Wiggins Could Unlock That Extra First-Rounder
Wiggins, the former No. 1 pick and 2022 NBA champion with Golden State, landed in Miami via the Butler-Warriors trade. At ~$28-30M this season (with a player option), he’s a solid 3-and-D wing when motivated—averaging around 15-18 PPG in recent years with elite defense—but his fit in Miami’s system has been questioned, and his value lies more in salary matching and trade appeal than on-court dominance for the Heat.
League chatter indicates Miami is demanding at least one first-round pick in any Wiggins outgoing deal (per reports from Jake Fischer and others). Potential suitors include:
- Golden State Warriors — They’ve discussed a Wiggins reunion (preliminary talks noted by Marc Stein and Brett Siegel), potentially sending Jonathan Kuminga, Buddy Hield/Moses Moody, and a pick. But Golden State has thrown cold water on it in some reports, prioritizing Giannis assets.
- Los Angeles Lakers or other contenders needing wing depth.
- Teams like the Cavaliers or others in the wing market.
If Miami flips Wiggins for a 2026, 2027, or 2028 first-rounder (even protected), it suddenly adds legitimate draft capital to sweeten a Giannis package. This could elevate Miami from “intriguing but limited” to a legitimate threat, especially if the Bucks grow hesitant about taking on Draymond Green’s contract ($25.9M this year, player option next) without rerouting it.
Hypothetical Trade Scenarios If Heat Pull This Off
Assume Miami trades Wiggins to, say, the Warriors or Lakers for a 2027 first-round pick (mid-lottery protected). They could then construct a monster offer:
Scenario 1: Direct Two-Team Heat-Bucks Deal (Aggressive Version)
- Heat receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Thanasis Antetokounmpo
- Bucks receive: Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Terry Rozier, Jaime Jaquez Jr. (partial), 2027 first (from Wiggins flip), 2029 first, 2031 first, 2030 pick swap, 2032 pick swap
This gives Milwaukee youth (Herro/Ware/Jaquez), salary relief, and a haul of picks/swaps—addressing their desire for a rebuild/reset while maximizing Giannis’ value.
Scenario 2: Three-Team Involving a Salary Dump Involve a third team (e.g., Pistons or Wizards) to absorb bad money. Heat send additional salary; Bucks get picks + young pieces rerouted.
The Wiggins flip is pivotal because it provides the “surplus” Milwaukee craves without gutting Miami’s core (Adebayo stays put as the defensive anchor Giannis would pair perfectly with).
Challenges and Counterpoints
- Deadline Pressure: With less than 24 hours until February 5 (as of February 4, 2026), talks move fast. The Bucks show “little urgency” per some insiders, possibly preferring summer leverage for Giannis’ next contract.
- Giannis’ Preferences: Reports suggest he leans toward Miami or Minnesota over Golden State (due to legacy concerns echoing Kevin Durant’s experience). A beefed-up Heat offer could sway him if he requests or signals preference.
- Heat’s Luxury Tax/Second Apron: Miami operates near the apron; major incoming salary like Giannis’ ~$54M requires careful matching and could hard-cap them.
- Competition: Warriors lead with their offer (per Windhorst), and Timberwolves have Edwards appeal. Knicks offer big-market allure.
Still, the “one more move” logic holds: Acquiring an extra first via Wiggins trade is low-risk (Wiggins isn’t core to Miami’s identity) and high-reward in a Giannis bidding war.
Broader Implications
If Miami pulls this off, it creates a superteam in the East: Giannis + Adebayo forms one of the league’s best defensive duos, with spacing from Herro/Rozier and playoff intangibles from Riley/ Spoelstra. For the Bucks, it’s a painful but potentially franchise-altering reset. For the Warriors, it might force them to overpay or pivot.
The NBA rumor mill thrives on these hypotheticals, but the Wiggins-to-first trade idea is a savvy, realistic lever Miami could pull to forge a “monster” offer. Whether it happens before Thursday’s deadline remains the million-dollar question—Giannis’ future hangs in the balance.
