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Apr 12, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo looks on after the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
Few deals were bigger than the Miami Heat bringing Giannis Antetokounmpo to town. What a blockbuster move. The Heat obviously mean business for the coming season, and they've instantly become a real contender with Antetokounmpo in the fold.
Antetokounmpo was a statement move. It instantly took the Heat up several notches in early power rankings. But, time will tell if Antetokounmpo can lead this team to the championship. The Heat certainly have a better chance now.
But, the Heat aren't favorites quite yet. They're still behind a handful of NBA teams, and there's one question for Miami that really stands out.
Giannis Antetokounmpo trade was great but the Heat still have work to do
John Schuhmann of the NBA's official website has unleashed his offseason power rankings for 2026. In it, he has the Heat at No. 8. The big question he asks is if they have enough in the backcourt.
"Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo will be a dominant defensive frontcourt, and the Heat can stagger their minutes so that one of the two is always on the floor and the offensive fit issues are minimized," he states in the piece. "Portis can play alongside either one and Andrew Wiggins can play some minutes at the four."
He adds that if Nikola Jovic comes back better, that will give the Heat a strong frontline. But, he says the backcourt is still pretty thin, which is a problem.
"The Heat will surely continue to run, and nobody’s better in transition than Antetokounmpo," he says, "but the half-court offense could struggle with their guards lacking the requisite shooting and quickness to complement the frontcourt stars."
So, the Heat solved a lot of problems with the Antetokounmpo trade. But they still have work ahead.
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