Giannis Antetokounmpo finally got his wish earlier this week.
Antetokounmpo, the greatest player in Milwaukkee Bucks history, saw his tenure with the only franchise that he has ever known end when he was dealt to the Miami Heat on June 22. Miami, his reported preferred destination, acquired the two-time NBA MVP along with Bobby Portis for Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Kasparas Jakucionas.
The Heat also surrendered most of their remaining capital to the Bucks. The Bucks received the Heat’s No. 13 pick in the 2026 draft (Nate Ament) and two future first-round selections, along with a second selection.
Obviously, Giannis heading to Miami dramatically affects the power dynamics in the NBA. Most bettors have found vastly new odds on early 2026-27 season, and Vegas Hunter confirms the trend.
We look at the shakeup in the power rankings including the biggest movers.
Miami Heat Becomes Instant Top-Tier Contenders
As expected, Miami will get a huge boost in the power rankings with the addition of Giannis. The Heat have been a mid-tier team in the NBA Power Rankings over the past four seasons, participating in the Play-In Tournament each of the last four campaigns. Even after reaching the NBA Finals in 2022, they still had to go through the Play-In to qualify for the Playoffs officially.
Despite lingering around the average for most of these four years, the Heat dropped to near the bottom rung of the rankings this past campaign. The Heat finished 10th in the East and then fell to Orlando in the final Conference Play-In game, thus failing to make the playoffs for the first time in seven years.
However, now with Antetokounmpo, the Heat will surely begin the season among the top echelon of teams, with the potential to eventually move into the top five. Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo instantly become the best frontcourt duo in the game, and it really isn’t close.
While the Heat do have some work to do with their backcourt, particularly if Norm Powell leaves as an unrestricted free agent. But opposing teams will have a hard time containing Antetokounmpo, Adebayo, and Andrew Wiggins – assuming he opts into his $30 million player – with keeping them off the boards a particular challenge. How well they shoot the ball will ultimately determine their ceiling.
Milwaukee Falls From Contender To Bottom Feeder
Giannis has always given Milwaukee hope, and for good reason: the Bucks made the playoffs nine straight years before that streak came to an end. However, the Bucks struggled mightily and posted the 10th-worst record in the league at 32-50. The Bucks finished 29th in scoring at 110.6 points per game and 24th in offensive rating, as turnovers and offensive rebounds were major issues.
Granted, injuries were a big issue as two of their starters, Giannis and Kevin Porter Jr., missed over half the season. The Bucks went 15-31 in the 46 games that Antetokounmpo sat out. More problematic for the Bucks going forward is how awful they were on both ends of the floor without the 10-time All-Star.
Milwaukee outscored its opponents by an average of 2.7 points a game when Antetokounmpo was on the floor. Conversely, the Bucks were -7.2 points when Giannis was off the floor, a nearly 10-point difference.
Overall, the Bucks appear to be considering a complete rebuild. The Bucks have a new coach in Taylor Jenkins, and they will likely give their two rookies, along with the three youngsters they received from Miami.
Plus, there are already rumors that the Bucks are open to offers for Herro, while Kyle Kuzma and Myles Turner may also be on the trading block.
The Bucks appear destined to start the season on the bottom rung of the Power Rankings, with a chance of falling into the bottom five, depending on how the rest of the roster shakes out. To bear this out, since 2018-19, the Bucks have a .642 winning percentage with Antetokounmpo on the court compared to a .437 winning percentage in the 135 games he has missed.
The Eastern Conference Hierarchy
Oklahoma City and San Antonio will certainly be 1-and-2 in NBA Power Rankings throughout the summer, even with questions surrounding the Thunder’s roster. New York will be a top-5 team, with Detroit and Miami figuring to be among the top echelon.
Boston, one of the two finalists for Giannis Sweepstakes, and Cleveland should be hovering around the elite echelon. But both have major roster questions heading into the summer. Will the Celtics end up trading Jaylen Brown after he was included in the trade talks for Giannis? While the Cavs have major salary concerns, they may have to break up their talented starting five despite an Eastern Conference run.
