If the Heat strike out on Giannis Antetokounmpo, the backup plan is reportedly Trae Young. Pat Riley has been hedging against the possibility that Milwaukee blocks the Antetokounmpo deal by keeping the Atlanta Hawks engaged in serious Trae Young conversations.
That’s a fascinating Plan B because Young is a fundamentally different basketball player than Giannis. Where Antetokounmpo is the league’s most dominant interior force, Young is a 26-year-old point guard who lives at the three-point line and the free throw line. Different problem. Different solution.
The fit with Miami still has logic. The Heat have been searching for a primary scorer and play-maker since the LeBron James era ended, and Young checks both boxes. His ability to create offense out of nothing is the kind of skill the Heat haven’t had at full strength in years.
The catch is that Young’s defense has been a long-standing knock, and Miami’s identity is built on defense. Erik Spoelstra would have to scheme around Young’s limitations on that end, which is doable but not easy. Bam Adebayo at center would still be the defensive anchor.
Atlanta has reportedly opened up to a trade because the Hawks core hasn’t gotten over the hump. Despite multiple All-Star appearances from Young, the team has been stuck in the play-in tournament range, and the front office is starting to think a reset might be necessary. The Hawks would want a package built around picks and young talent.
The deal structure being floated has Miami sending out a younger guard, a veteran salary piece, and multiple first-round picks. The framework is similar to the Giannis package on paper, just with smaller stars on both sides of the transaction.
Young’s contract situation makes him movable. He’s signed long-term but not at supermax money, and his deal can be absorbed by teams with cap maneuverability. That’s part of what makes him an attractive target for Miami compared to other star options.
What makes this story unusual is that the Heat are essentially running two parallel star pursuits. Riley has been working both phones, and the Hawks are aware they’re the backup option. That’s an awkward dynamic for any front office to manage, but Atlanta has signaled they’re willing to engage either way.
If Giannis stays in Milwaukee and the Trae deal happens, the Heat instantly become a different offensive team. They’d run a high-volume pick-and-roll with Young and Adebayo, surround them with shooters, and play at a much faster pace than Spoelstra’s recent rosters.
The Eastern Conference would still be New York’s to lose, but a Trae-led Heat team would be a serious contender. Especially given how thin the East is at the top right now after the Knicks championship and the Bucks’ uncertain future.
For Trae personally, this would be a chance to reset his narrative. The Atlanta years have included real success and real frustration, and a move to a winning culture would change the way fans evaluate him. Miami specifically is the right place for a star to evolve his image.
The Hawks have a few other moves to make even if the Trae deal happens, including decisions on Jonathan Kuminga and several role players. Atlanta is using the next few weeks to figure out the full picture.
If Giannis is the Heat’s Plan A, Trae is a Plan B that still has real ceiling. Riley doesn’t run dud backup plans.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
