The Orlando Magic were never in the running to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo. On Tuesday, news broke that the Milwaukee Bucks traded Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to the Miami Heat. The Heat gave up a package that included Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Kasparas Jakucionis, as well as three first-round picks.
What happened?
The Bucks received the No. 13 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, which began on Tuesday, one pick swap, and one second-round pick. The Heat were in a tight race with the Boston Celtics to acquire Antetokounmpo. Boston would have had to part with Jaylen Brown to acquire the two-time MVP.
Why it matters for Orlando Magic
The Magic do not have the draft capital available that Miami had to give up for Antetokounmpo. Orlando did have that type of negotiating power a summer ago, but it was used in the trade for Desmond Bane in June 2025. So, the Magic were never going to dismantle their core group of players for Antetokounmpo.
What comes next?
The Magic's recent form has been 1W-0D-2L, with their last result being a 111-109 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on 2025-03-09. Their president of basketball operations, Jeff Weltman, has expressed his belief in the current group, citing injuries as a major factor in their performance. Weltman has stated that he believes the Magic would have progressed further in the playoffs if they had been healthy.
| Date | Result |
|---|---|
| 2025-03-09 | Milwaukee Bucks 109-111 Orlando Magic |
The Magic's focus will now shift to developing their young core, including Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, and Paolo Banchero. With their current roster, the Magic will look to improve their playoff chances in the upcoming season.
