Heat Among 3 Teams Not to Make Trade at 2026 NBA Deadline After Giannis Rumors

The Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets were the only three teams not to make a move prior to Thursday's trade deadline.

Miami, of course, was heavily connected to Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, who stayed put. ESPN's Brian Windhorst had this to say on Thursday's edition of First Take (h/t Doric Sam of Bleacher Report).

"The Miami Heat are still out there, and the Heat, as last I heard, were still trying to make moves to improve their offer that they can make to Milwaukee," Windhorst said.

"They have an offer that is sort of a blend of young players and draft picks. It's sort of a hybrid offer when you compare to Minnesota and Golden State's, so it would sort of be a middle path. That said, the Heat can make a better offer, a more draft-pick-rich offer later this summer. So, teams in the league right now believe it is most likely that Giannis stays put, but Miami is still there, and I want to point out that I would never put anything past Andy Elsburg, their GM, and the aggression of Pat Riley. So, keep an eye with Miami."

ESPN's Shams Charania previously wrote on Jan. 28 that the Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks and Golden State Warriors "were among the serious suitors" for Antetokounmpo.

Charania did report on Jan. 28 that Antetokounmpo was "ready for a new home at the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline or in the offseason."

After the trade deadline passed, Antetokounmpo implied that he could be sticking around and perhaps convincing players to head to Milwaukee down the road.

The saga surrounding Antetokounmpo and whether or not he would be traded closes for now. We'll see what happens this offseason down the road.

As for the three teams that didn't make deals, the Spurs and Rockets seem well-equipped to make deep playoff runs. San Antonio sits second in the Western Conference at 34-16, and Houston isn't too far behind at 31-18 (fourth).

The 27-25 Heat, though, may struggle just to make the playoffs given its current standing. Miami is currently in seventh right now, three games behind the 30-22 Toronto Raptors for sixth and three-and-a-half games ahead of the 23-30 Charlotte Hornets, the first team out of the playoff picture right now.

Thirty regular-season games remain to determine Miami's destination, whether it be the top six, a play-in tournament berth or outside the playoffs.

Miami does have enough talent on the roster to ultimately make the postseason, of course, thanks to Bam Adebayo, Norman Powell and Tyler Herro, among others.