The Miami Heat were supposed to land a star guard this summer. Any fan of the NBA knows who we’re talking about. The Heat were widely linked to Damian Lillard. In the end, the Portland Trail Blazers would send him to the Milwaukee Bucks anyway.
How did this happen? By all accounts, Lillard wanted to go to Miami. In this age of player empowerment, that’s typically all that matters. Lillard to Miami felt like a foregone conclusion. It wasn’t. Simply put, the Milwaukee Bucks outbid them.
So far this season, the Heat are suffering the consequences. They’ve severely underperformed to begin this season. It looks like they could use a star guard.
Could they make a move for Zach LaVine of the Chicago Bulls?
NBA Trade Proposal — Miami Heat Land Zach LaVine
Chicago Bulls Receive: G Kyle Lowry, G/F Duncan Robinson, 2027 First-Round Pick (MIA), 2029 First-Round Pick (MIA)
Miami Heat Receive: G/F Zach LaVine, G Jevon Carter
Did the Blazers halt the player empowerment era? Did their decision not to send him to his desired landing spot change everything? We’re not sure. Frankly, we don’t have a precedent with which to reach that conclusion.
It will be interesting to keep an eye on moving forward. Lillard wanted to go to Miami. He was sent to Milwaukee. Is it possible that there are some limits to player empowerment? That’s how it currently feels.
That may be for the best. Star players should have a large slice of the league’s pie – player empowerment shouldn’t be altogether squashed.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat Updates
Yet, the Blazers sent Lillard to a good situation – he’ll be playing for the title in Miami. They never owed him the exact team he wanted to land on. Would LaVine share Lillard’s desire to land in Miami?
Why The Miami Heat Do The Deal
It feels likely. It’s also not entirely the point. The Heat need to be asking themselves if acquiring LaVine makes them a markedly better team. After all, they already have one volume-scoring guard. Can LaVine co-exist with Tyler Herro?
We think so. The Heat are uniquely designed to roster two scoring guards of this nature. They get the bulk of their playmaking from their front court. Given Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler’s combined passing ability, the Heat can handle both Herro and LaVine.
In fact, having each should make them a much better team. This group has been lacking some juice in their frontcourt offense. Adding LaVine would give them that juice.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat Updates
Meanwhile, Carter is a solid player who can defend the point of attack. He’ll find his place in Miami’s rotation as well. Should the Bulls give him up?
Why The Chicago Bulls Do The Deal
The Heat may be having a disappointing season. The Bulls are as well. Meanwhile, this isn’t unexpected. The Bulls were underwhelming last season. They hardly changed their roster, and now, they’re underwhelming again.
It’s time for Chicago to rebuild. If this front office agrees, they’ll look to move LaVine first. In that event, they ought to prioritize draft capital above all else.
Given the league’s current market, we think that two unprotected firsts ought to be just about market value for him. So, that’s what they’re getting here.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat Updates
They’re also getting an expiring contract in Kyle Lowry – that’s valuable for a rebuilding team. If the Bulls are smart moving forward, perhaps they’ll be in the running for a star guard in a few years time.
