The Miami Heat could become a contender in the East with this trade.
The Miami Heat are doing exactly what people expected, as they’re punching above their weight again this season. Their offseason was rough, losing Gabe Vincent and Max Strus while failing to land Damian Lillard or Jrue Holiday in the trade market. They may be 7-14 but they need an infusion of major talent to help Miami contend amongst the best in the East.
The Chicago Bulls are destined to be blown up this season, with teams around the NBA monitoring the situation with Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic. The Bulls are struggling to move these players due to their contracts, with Lavine and Vucevic’s long-term contracts considered a poor deal and DeMar under contract till the end of the season, the Bulls will have to get creative in maximizing trade value for them. We may have a way to get that done.
Trade Details:
Chicago Bulls Receive: Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson, Kyle Lowry, Nikola Jovic, 2028 First-Round Pick (MIA), 2029 First-Round Pick Swap (MIA)
Miami Heat Receive: Zach Lavine, DeMar DeRozan
LaVine is not going to have teams lining up for him, with interested teams likely looking to make him a second or third option on offense. The same applies to DeRozan, but he also can’t space the floor like LaVine. Despite that, the pair could transform the Heat into favorites.
The Bulls Get What They Can And Move On
The Bulls are not going to let their stars go easily, but is anyone going to pay multiple picks for each of these players? Highly unlikely, especially for DeMar DeRozan and his reputation as a poor shooter as well as his expiring contract. Getting one pick for the stars would be a positive move, which could become two positive moves by throwing in another pick to try and take the lead in any Zach LaVine offers. Making this a single deal that sends promising young players to Chicago for two stars is the ideal trade.
The Bulls get some really strong pieces to fast-track their rebuild. Tyler Herro looks like one of the best young guards in the NBA when he’s playing and could be the player the Bulls build a short-term rebuild around. He was averaging 22.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.6 assists before getting hurt. Duncan Robinson has found his form back in his shot after two seasons of inconsistent shooting, averaging 14.7 points, 2.7 assists, and 2.6 rebounds points on 44.7% shooting from three, a phenomenal addition for the Bulls.
Lowry will need to be included for salary reasons, but another future asset joins him, as Nikola Jovic can finally be moved to a city where he gets playing time, something that seems impossible in Miami for him. He could be the real long-term difference-maker, projecting to be a solid frontcourt player in the NBA, or maybe even a star if developed correctly.
The Heat Commit To Championships
The Miami Heat are one of the most cautious teams in the NBAM not often willing to throw in future assets behind players to try and improve with mega trades every other season. They build with their assets, with their success so far proving the effectiveness of their strategy. But after they failed to get Damian Lillard this summer despite their best efforts, they left a hole in the franchise by letting role-players go.
Without depth or top-end talent, it’s impossible to win in the NBA. Adding two-for-one rotational players isn’t a likelihood for them, but giving up these players to get two players that are guaranteed producers could help. LaVine is averaging 21.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.4 assists, trying to adjust to playing on a franchise he has no interest in staying with. DeRozan has fared better but his 21.5 points, 4.9 assists. and 3.3 rebounds averages aren’t enough to keep the Bulls in the play-in hunt.
These players aren’t locked into what the Bulls want to achieve, but maybe a taste of ‘Heat Culture’ makes both players realize that they can achieve something greater in the NBA if they play their roles. With Herro leaving, LaVine will be heavily expected to not only show ball-handling and playmaking chops but also consistently score the ball. Same for DeRozan, as he is one of the best link-up passers in the game and arguably one of the best mid-range shooters of this era.
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