MIAMI — The Miami Heat remain a prime suitor should Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo become attainable, and that possibility is already influencing the club’s summer blueprint, the Miami Herald reported.
Heat weighing short-term moves until Antetokounmpo picture clears
Veteran wing Norman Powell, headed to free agency, is viewed as a top target only if Miami misses on Antetokounmpo. Team officials are expected to preserve salary-cap flexibility for 2027 and are reluctant to extend Powell beyond a brief agreement unless the two-time MVP lands in South Florida.
Should Antetokounmpo arrive, Miami would consider a longer commitment to Powell, whose perimeter shooting complements the forward’s rim-oriented attack. The same principle applies to rookie wing Pelle Larsson; the Heat might invest long term if Antetokounmpo is on board, though league sources believe Larsson could interest Milwaukee in any deal.
Wizards, Trae Young projected to discuss three-year, $120 million pact
WASHINGTON — Rival executives anticipate Trae Young and the Washington Wizards eventually agreeing on roughly a three-year, $120 million contract, according to The Stein Line. Young must decide on his $49 million player option by June 23 and could decline to negotiate the new deal. Most around the league, however, expect the four-time All-Star to stay in Washington.
The Wizards, who added Young and Anthony Davis during the season, plan to accelerate their rebuild with the No. 1 overall draft pick joining a core of Davis, Young and promising center Alex Sarr.
Knicks searching for fourth-quarter spark from Karl-Anthony Towns
NEW YORK — The Knicks trail the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals partly because Karl-Anthony Towns has not scored in any fourth quarter through three games. Head coach Mike Brown admitted after Sunday’s Game 3 defeat that the team must keep Towns involved down the stretch.
Former guard Danny Green, analyzing on ESPN, pointed out that Towns has settled for perimeter looks instead of exploiting mismatches inside, a shift from his earlier postseason approach.
Source: Hoops Wire
