4. The Heat add the missing weapon needed to win a championship
First, it was Bradley Beal, then it was Damian Lillard, then it was Jrue Holiday… the Miami Heat are going to have to bite the bullet and eventually trade for someone, right? If Miami is unwilling to cobble together a package befitting a true superstar, perhaps they cut a few corners and opt to deal for a low-end All-Star like LaVine instead.
Zach would fit seamlessly with a team like the Heat, as their stout defensive scheme would more than compensate for LaVine’s deficiencies on that end of the court. If anyone was going to get LaVine to buy in and become a plus defender, it would be Erik Spoelstra. Zach would also be an immense help when it comes to taking the offensive burden off the shoulders of Jimmy Butler, as he’d likely prefer to save his energy and health for another playoff run.
Jimmy Butler could get the help he’s needed in Miami with a Zach LaVine trade.
All things considered, this is a package even Pat Riley wouldn’t scoff at. Miami gets to keep their prized prospect in Tyler Herro. They land a second deadly offensive weapon to put around their defensive juggernaut Bam Adebayo. If the Heat’s infamous development system could churn out even just one quality role player this season, I doubt they’d even miss a beat when it comes to their bench depth.
In return, the Bulls would land a solid role player in Caleb Martin and an intriguing prospect in Nikola Jovic. Kyle Lowry serves as salary filler and would almost certainly be waived following this deal. Miami’s future picks are the most desirable asset here, as they might end up being high value as Jimmy Butler inevitably declines and this team is forced to retool without him. This trade may not be the most attractive of offers on the table, but it just might be the most realistic.