Latest Giannis Rumors Ahead of 2026 NBA Draft amid Heat, Celtics, Blazers Links

Five days away from the 2026 NBA draft, the Miami Heat appear to have the inside track on striking a deal with the Milwaukee Bucks for Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Per NBA insider Jake Fischer, the feeling among people in the league is that Milwaukee has "been carrying itself like a franchise" that expects to make picks at No. 10 and 13 in the draft.

The 10th pick is owned by the Bucks, while the 13th spot in the first round currently belongs to Miami.

Fischer added that the Heat and Boston Celtics are the two teams Antetokounmpo would be prepared to sign a long-term extension with, while the Portland Trail Blazers "no longer" appear to be a likely landing spot because it "has been conveyed" to them the two-time MVP wouldn't extend his deal:

"I'm told that Portland, back at the February trade deadline, was prepared to sacrifice up to four years of first-round draft capital in an Antetokounmpo trade … even without knowing for sure that Antetokounmpo would commit to an extension. It is strongly believed that the Blazers are no longer willing to go to such lengths — since it has been conveyed to them that getting such an extension signed is considered unlikely — and that perceived retreat has only fueled the notion that Miami and Boston have little current company at the forefront of these sweepstakes."

Part of Antetokounmpo's leverage in having a hand in where he goes is the $62.8 million player option in his contract for the 2027-28 season. Teams would presumably only feel comfortable giving up a lot if they have some understanding they could keep him beyond next season.

As far as the race between the Heat and Celtics goes, Fischer's report notes Boston has gotten "frustrated" with this whole process in part because of the "incessant speculation" about Jaylen Brown's potential inclusion in a package to the Bucks.

This comes after Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe said earlier this week people in the NBA feel like Antetokounmpo is unlikely to end up with the Celtics, in part because they are unsure if they would even want to move Brown.

If the Heat end up adding Antetokounmpo, the next question will be filling out a roster around him. Their offer to the Bucks would be likely be built around a combination of players and picks, with Tyler Herro being one name often cited going back to Milwaukee.

A trade involving the No. 13 pick would at least give the Bucks two lottery selections in this year's draft. B/R's Jonathan Wasserman has projected Nate Ament at 10 and Cameron Carr at 13 in his most recent mock.

The Bucks haven't picked in the top 20 since 2018 when they took Donte DiVincenzo with the No. 17 pick. Their last lottery selection was Thon Maker at No. 10 in 2016.