Milwaukee Bucks General Manager Jon Horst has described the decision to trade Giannis Antetokounmpo as a “very difficult decision”.
He said this at a press conference on Wednesday, July 8 in the wake of moving the Greece international from Milwaukee to the Miami Heat.
In return, Miwaukee got shooting guard Tyler Herro, four players and a hoard of draft picks in the trade as the team begins its rebuilding.
Giannis was drafted by the Bucks as the 15th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft and blossomed to become an NBA champion, NBA Most Valuable Player Award winner and NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award winner.
Addressing the trade at the presser, Horst shared that moving off the franchise player was far from easy by stating,
“No one’s sitting here today and saying that we’re a better team today after trading Giannis. He’s one of the greatest players to ever play, greatest player in the franchise history. We’ve had an incredible amount of success.”
Giannis is here. Make sure you are, too. Secure a Half-Season Plan and lock in the same seat for 20 Regular Season home games! https://t.co/oxabbJgFc7 pic.twitter.com/8byFhxs5zy
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) July 7, 2026
“For us, it was just about the opportunity to build and to again, set a foundation. There is a sense of excitement because it’s a different challenge… and if there’s any sense of peace, it’s that I think Giannis is in a similar situation” Horst said.
Good morning, HEAT Nation 😏 pic.twitter.com/LTqQE7ha7v
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) July 7, 2026
