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Zach Lowe on Giannis Antetokounmpo: Miami is the frontrunner to me until I hear like concrete evidence that anyone has beaten the offer that has been sitting there for a long time. We don't know exactly what it is. We know that I keep seeing these reports like Milwaukee doesn't love Miami's offer. It's like, really? You don't think they do? He's still on the Bucks. Like, if they loved it, I think this would have been done by now. But I'm not even ruling out like a mystery team that that might jump in. These things can take some unpredictable turns as deadlines approach, and I think a big deadline is approaching. So, I would still brand Miami the front runner, but obviously the Bucks are waiting for more from them, whether they extract it via leverage, whether Miami just decides it we're done we just need to get it done. Because if they liked Miami's offer, he'd be on Miami.
Heat Central: “Since the day after the season ended for the Heat, I have been saying Giannis is going to be a member of the Heat next season. I’m going to stick with that. I think a trade gets done on draft day. I’m gonna guess the last possible minute, they find a deal and they get Giannis.” — @Anthony_Chiang on his Giannis to Miami prediction.
Speaking of Plan Bs, league sources say the Portland Trail Blazers would have serious interest in Brown if the Celtics made him available. The Blazers have been among the suitors for Antetokounmpo since the February trade deadline but appear to be on the outside looking in at the moment. Also, league sources say the Minnesota Timberwolves — whose pursuit of Antetokounmpo also appears to have cooled — have strong interest in the Celtics’ Derrick White.
Several sources have conveyed that Milwaukee GM Jon Horst has established especially ambitious asking prices in Giannis talks. The word that keeps coming back: "Unrealistic." The Bucks naturally want as much as they can if they're parting with their Face of the Franchise, so what constitutes unrealistic? Sources say Milwaukee has been asking teams for returns that would leave any club acquiring Antetokounmpo too barren to contend for a championship.
Jon Krawczynski: All of this from @sam_amick and @eric_nehm from last week still applies with the Wolves and Giannis. It would be incredibly difficult. But Connelly's aggressive mindset means you can't count them out while he's still available.
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In reference to Minnesota's interest in White, which The Athletic's Sam Amick first reported Friday morning, trading him for Rudy Gobert would represent a clear salary match. Sources say that Boston, furthermore, has inquired about Gobert before ... most recently at February's trade deadline.
To be clear: I don't get the sense that the Bucks don't want Herro. I've actually heard that Milwaukee and Herro have mutual interest. But the Bucks will clearly be trending toward a total reset from the Antetokounmpo Era if they proceed with a trade over the next few days. If they can get additional future assets by shipping Herro to Detroit or elsewhere ... how could they resist?
Sam Amick on Ja Morant: "The only two teams I have heard and I will pick one of them is New Orleans and Sacramento. I will probably push it the New Orleans way."
League sources say that the Pistons' Isaiah Stewart is not merely available but outright bracing for a trade that sends him elsewhere this summer as part of any move that the Pistons make to bolster their shooting and playmaking depth. I'm told veteran forward Tobias Harris, by contrast, is a player Detroit is determined to retain after his solid postseason run. Sources say that the Bucks, furthermore, are Stewart fans.
Darren Wolfson: Another player of interest to the Wolves, per multiple league contacts: Bulls guard Josh Giddey. Just not sure how you pry him out of Chicago, and I like his fit with new coach Tiago Splitter. #WolvesBack #Twolves
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Kendrick Perkins: I didn't get this from no inside source with the Celtics, but I just feel like at this point Jaylen Brown is somewhat talking himself right up out of that organization with his live stream. And people may say ‘man, Perk, you overreacting or you tripping’. No, I'm not. Because Allie you've been in locker rooms, you played at a high level in college, you covered at a high level. That's why you got all them Emmys. Danny Green, three-time champion. And y'all know like I know that podcasting, that was not going to be tolerated in our locker room because it breaks a trust. Like the most important thing that you need when you're trying to go win a championship is you need trust.
Zach Lowe: I would still bet on him getting traded before the draft. My favorite reporting in the last week has been ‘sources say MIL doesn’t love MIA offer.’ Really? If they loved MIA’s offer I think he’d be on Miami like two months ago. Miami is in it. Boston is in it to some degree. The degree I’m not entirely sure…. I still think it happens before the draft because MIL will want a 1st round pick in this draft. A lot of teams are trying to get a bite at the apple in the middle of the lottery