Antetokounmpo joins Miami; Randle goes to Brooklyn

los angeles (AFP) — Two-time National Basketball Association (NBA) Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo is joining the Miami Heat from the Milwaukee Bucks, multiple US media outlets including ESPN reported on Monday.

Miami won a battle with the Boston Celtics for the signature of the 31-year-old Greek who won a championship with the Bucks in 2021.

ESPN reported that Miami will acquire Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis in a deal which sends Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kasparas Jakucionis in the other direction.

Milwaukee will also receive three first-round picks, a pick swap and a second-round pick, ESPN reported.

The deal draws a line under months of speculation concerning Antetokounmpo’s future in Milwaukee.

The Greek star had openly vented frustration with Milwaukee’s management for not clearing him to play after suffering a left knee hyperextension.

Antetokounmpo insisted he was fit and ready to help force a playoff push despite being declared unavailable by Milwaukee’s front office.

Speaking in April after Milwaukee failed to reach the playoffs at the end of a 32-50 season, Antetokounmpo also vented at the team’s failure to build a roster capable of contending for championships.

“I feel like sometimes people just don’t listen,” Antetokounmpo said.

“They listen to the sources. The main source is me. It is what it is.”

Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets are acquiring three-time All-Star forward Julius Randle from the Minnesota Timberwolves as part of a three-team deal that also will send center Nic Claxton to the Chicago Bulls.

Randle and the Wolves’ No. 28 pick in Tuesday’s NBA draft will go to Brooklyn, which will send its No. 33 pick to Minnesota, sources told ESPN.

The Bulls are trading forward Mo Gueye to the Timberwolves in their part of the deal.