Making a deal in the NBA is not easy. The market is always competitive. Your team may be interested in a star player. Odds are, they aren’t alone. In order to acquire that player, your team needs to negotiate well and win a bidding war.
With that in mind, the Miami Heat have fallen short this summer. By all indications, they were the frontrunners to land Damian Lillard. They couldn’t. Now, Lillard is a member of the Milwaukee Bucks. Either the Heat didn’t negotiate well, or they lost the bidding war.
Could they make a bid for another star guard? The Heat are clearly interested in upgrading their backcourt rotation. They may have missed out on Lillard, but that doesn’t mean that there won’t be more upgrades for them to make. How about Zach LaVine of the Chicago Bulls?
The Trade Proposal
Chicago Bulls receive: G Tyler Herro, G/F Duncan Robinson, 2027 First-Round Pick (MIA), 2029 First-Round Pick (MIA)
Miami Heat Receive: G/F Zach LaVine
Meanwhile, Heat president Pat Riley doesn’t like to lose bidding wars. As a matter of fact, he doesn’t like to lose anything. This has been a disappointing summer for the longtime executive. Now, some are questioning whether he’s still equipped to do his job.
Is that a fair concern? It’s hard to say. On the one hand, it shocked the NBA world that Miami didn’t land Lillard. They were widely expected to acquire him. It seemed that Lillard would only join Miami, and the Heat seemed like they’d be happy to acquire him. How did Riley mess this up?
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls & Miami Heat Updates
Arguably, he didn’t. The truth is, the Heat never had the best offer to make for Lillard. The market simply sorted the issue out on its own. Miami has limited draft capital, and the Portland Trail Blazers didn’t seem interested in Tyler Herro. Does Miami even have enough to land LaVine?
Why The Chicago Bulls Do The Deal
We think so. Lillard is one of the best offensive players in the NBA. LaVine, as talented as he is, is in a slightly lower tier. The Bulls won’t receive the same package for him that the Blazers did for Lillard if they put him on the trade block.
On a related note, the Bulls should put LaVine on the trade block. This team was woefully disappointing in 2022-23. It’s time for the Bulls to overhaul their roster. That likely starts with trading LaVine. In return, they should look to get younger and more future-focused.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls & Miami Heat Updates
Here, they achieve both goals. Herro is significantly younger than LaVIne. It’s not unreasonable to suggest that he could develop into an equal player. Meanwhile, the Bulls also net a pair of unprotected first-round picks in this deal. Should Miami give up so much for LaVine?
Why The Miami Heat Do The Deal
Herro may be talented. He was also absent for the entirety of the Heat’s 2022-23 NBA Finals appearance. At this point, it’s hard not to wonder whether the Heat actually need him. Herro is the type of player who doesn’t always impact winning.
Granted, so is LaVine. These volume scorers don’t typically set up teammates or offer defensive value. Still, LaVIne is more athletic and more experienced. He’s not as prone to long bouts of inefficiency. This would be an undeniable upgrade for the Heat.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls & Miami Heat Updates
Are they giving up a lot to land him? Sure. If Miami wants to make a meaningful upgrade to their roster, they’ll have to give up a lot. This is the type of package that a team has to surrender in order to land a star player. Otherwise, they’re likely to lose a bidding war.
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