Insider: 2 Teams Lead The Race To Giannis Antetokounmpo, One Will Shock You

Aside from the potential coronation of Victor Wembanyama as the NBA's new king of the hill, the biggest thing to watch in the weeks ahead is the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes. And while there's been all sorts of buzz about big-market like the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors, we're now getting word from plugged-in insider Marc Stein that two teams are actually at the top of the chase, and one of them will shock you.

More and more, with sources saying Miami (Heat) and Portland (Trail Blazers) are already in pursuit, Antetokounmpo's future is increasingly expected to be resolved over the next few weeks in conjunction with NBA Draft proceedings.

The Miami thing, of course, we've been hearing for...well, years now. They will be doing their utmost to try to land their next superstar. Ever since Jimmy Butler left to go to Golden State at the 2025 trade deadline, the Heat have been an afterthought. Pat Riley needs to change that.

Trail Blazers a top contender for Giannis, with pal Damian Lillard back

However, the Trail Blazers do have a significant connection to wooing Giannis: It was Antetokounmpo who convinced the Milwaukee Bucks to trade for Damian Lillard from Portland a couple of years back, in an attempt to team up and win another title in Milwaukee.

That didn't pan out, and Lillard went down with a torn Achilles in the first round of the Bucks' 2025 playoff series against Indiana. Later that summer, he decided to return to his roots, and went back to Portland, his NBA home for 11 of his 13 seasons in the league.

Lillard tried to woo Giannis to Portland at this year's trade deadline, and now that a move is inevitable in the coming weeks, he's turning up the heat (so to speak).

Now, Dame is ready to get back in action in 2026-27, and sounds ready to return the favor, hoping to convince Giannis to join him in Portland this time. With Dame, the Greek Freak and burgeoning star Deni Avdija, the Blazers could be a real threat in the West. Many are figuring that the only way to compete with and defend Wemby in the immediate future would be to have someone with the length, and "freakish" talents of Giannis.

We've also heard recently of another surprise team being in the running.

We'll see how this plays out in the next three weeks. The NBA Draft is set for June 23, and it sounds like we'll have a resolution by then.