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NBA·TRANSACTION·June 24, 2026 09:10 AM ET

Heat Trade Center Kel'el Ware to Bucks in Giannis Antetokounmpo Blockbuster

Miami's young center goes to Milwaukee in Giannis swap.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Jun 241 min read
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What happened: Kel'el Ware has been traded from the Miami Heat to the Milwaukee Bucks as part of a larger deal that sends former MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to Miami. Ware, a first-round pick out of Indiana, spent two seasons with the Heat before the move. He is expected to compete for a featured role with the Bucks heading into the 2026-27 season.

Why it matters: The deal reshapes both rosters: Milwaukee gains a young, floor-spacing big to build around as it pivots away from the Antetokounmpo era, while Miami lands a perennial MVP candidate. For Ware, the trade is a chance for a larger offensive role than he held behind Miami's veterans. The swap accelerates Milwaukee's reset and signals a win-now posture in South Florida.

By the numbers: This past season Ware averaged 11.1 points, 9.0 rebounds and 0.7 assists in 22.1 minutes per game, shooting 53% from the field and 39.5% from 3-point range.

What to watch: Watch how Milwaukee fits Ware into its frontcourt rotation and whether his outside shooting translates to a bigger role. The full terms and additional pieces of the deal will shape how each side is judged.

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NBATradeMiami HeatMilwaukee BucksKel'el WareGiannis Antetokounmpo
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