The Miami Heat have completed a highly anticipated trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo that should have the Los Angeles Lakers counting their blessings. While Los Angeles gave up more than advertised when it traded for Luka Doncic 16 months ago, Miami mortgaged its future in a way the Lakers never had to.
It’s yet another reminder that, for as polarizing as Rob Pelinka’s tenure has been, he fleeced the Dallas Mavericks.
Los Angeles traded Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a first-round draft pick for Doncic. Davis, an NBA champion and All-NBA First Team honoree, was certainly a tough loss, but the Lakers managed to get a younger superstar to instantly replace him and expand their contending window. Miami, meanwhile, paid a small fortune.
According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Heat sent Tyler Herro, Kasparas Jakucionis, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel'el Ware, three first-round picks, one second-round selection, and a pick swap to the Milwaukee Bucks for Antetokounmpo.
"The Milwaukee Bucks are trading franchise icon Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to the Miami Heat for Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, three first-round picks (including No. 13 in Tuesday's NBA draft), one pick swap and one second-round pick, sources told ESPN."
That may not necessarily seem like much from a name value perspective, but the Heat gave up an All-Star guard, three future first-round draft picks, and three players it selected in the first round already.
Heat gave up far more for Giannis than Lakers lost for Luka
For those keeping track, Miami effectively gave up six first-round draft picks and a 26-year-old guard who was an All-Star in 2024-25 and won Sixth Man of the Year in 2021-22. That haul includes the Heat's past three first-round draft choices and its 2026 selection, which is a lottery pick.
Los Angeles, meanwhile, swapped out Davis for Doncic, gave up a single first-round draft pick, and parted with a former second-round selection in Christie.
Christie has blossomed into a high-level two-way player, and Dallas may yet cash in on the 2029 first-round pick it acquired from Los Angeles. The reality remains, however, that the Lakers gave up far less than the Heat for their superstar.
Compounded by the fact that Doncic is 27 and Antetokounmpo is 31, it's hard to overlook how much of a steal the Doncic trade truly was.
There is added context, of course, as Jalen Hood-Schifino and a second-round pick were sent to the Utah Jazz in the three-team deal. Hood-Schifino had never consistently factored into Los Angeles' rotation, however, whereas the players Miami traded all played significant roles in 2025-26.
Miami is still the big winner of the trade with Milwaukee, but Los Angeles deserves endless credit for completing its own superstar haul without losing half as many assets.
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