This is the perfect trade offer the Miami Heat can offer the Chicago Bulls for All-Star forward DeMar DeRozan.
Rumors floated around last week that Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan reportedly prefers a trade to the Miami Heat or the New York Knicks, should he become available on the market. With the Bulls season headed down the drain once again, they might as well kickstart a fire sale to finally embark on a rebuild.
The spotlight of the trade rumor mill has been on All-Star guard Zach LaVine. Alex Caruso is also a name that a lot of teams are eyeing. However, the Bulls will most likely look to trade DeRozan given his contract situation. DeRozan’s current deal will expire in the summer and the Bulls front office would not want to let him walk away in free agency for nothing.
As for the Heat, they are still looking for another piece that can help them finally get over the hump after losing two Finals and getting eliminated in the Eastern Conference Finals over the past four seasons. DeRozan and Miami seem like the perfect fit. With that said, let’s cook up the perfect trade the Heat must offer the Bulls to acquire DeMar DeRozan.
This is a pretty straightforward deal that both sides should benefit from. Unfortunately in this trade, we won’t see DeMar DeRozan reunite with his former Toronto Raptors teammate Kyle Lowry as the latter would be the main salary piece the Miami Heat will send out in the deal. Miami also gives away its 2025 first round pick, which should be a desired asset for the Chicago Bulls.
Getting a first round pick, which would presumably fall in the 20’s, for DeRozan’s expiring contract would be terrific for the Bulls. Chicago should stockpile on draft picks since it is embarking on a rebuild. Likewise, Lowry’s $29.6 million deal expires after this season, so they won’t take any extra salary in the deal.
The Bulls could ask for Tyler Herro instead. However, for a team looking to do a complete tear down, perhaps taking on his four-year $120 million contract, which kicked in this 2023-24 season, would not make much sense. Of course, Herro is still a solid piece to build a young franchise around. But are the Bulls even willing to bank on him as their franchise star of the future? I highly doubt it. Likewise, Miami would likely prefer to have Herro considering he is still a valuable part of what they are doing.
As for the Heat, they should go all in on their pursuit for a title. Rumor has it that an NBA executive views DeRozan as “the perfect fit” for the South Beach squad.
“Of all the player out there people are floating for the Heat, they’re not close to doing anything now, but DeMar DeRozan would be the one that has legs,” an Eastern Conference executive told Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports.
A core of Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, and DeMar DeRozan could be enough to get the Heat over the hump in their pursuit for their first title since the LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh era. At 34 years old, Deebo is still a highly-productive player who is capable of both scoring and creating for others as well.
Likewise, DeRozan’s expiring deal will also allow the Heat to re-sign him for a cheaper deal next summer. And in case he’s interested, Miami could also bring back Lowry in the offseason to finally reunite the two buddies in South Beach.
While no deal appears to be on the horizon, the Heat should certainly consider bringing in DeMar DeRozan.
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