Why the Heat should avoid trading for Bulls’ Zach LaVine
Mired in a slow start with an aging core, the Chicago Bulls (5-10) are unsurprisingly the subject of trade speculation — especially centered on Zach LaVine.
Per The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the defending Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat are among the teams that are expected to show interest in trading for the Bulls guard.
Here’s advice for Miami: Forget about it.
While LaVine is an exceptionally good offensive player who has made two All-Star games, it is hard to see him fitting with the Heat.
On the season LaVine is averaging 21.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists. His field-goal percentage (43.1%) is at its lowest since the 2017-18 season and his three-point percentage (33.9%) is a career low. His contract which began in the 2022-23 season was for an average of just over $43M until 2027, per Spotrac.
Meanwhile, Tyler Herro who was having a career season before an ankle injury knocked him out of action is averaging 22.9 points, five rebounds and 4.6 assists.
Given Herro’s age (23) compared to LaVine’s (28) and his more affordable contract of $30M per year until 2027. It makes little sense for Miami to swap Herro for LaVine.
Herro and LaVine are similar players — offensive stars with a score-first mentality who offer little on defense. They would not fit well together on the same team.
If the Heat were to make a trade not involving Herro. The combination of Kyle Lowry ($29.7M) and Duncan Robinson ($18.2M) could match up with Zach LaVine ($40.1M) and Andre Drummond ($3.36M) contract-wise. The Heat would need to add draft picks to entice the Bulls.
Robinson is having a career season, averaging 15.1 points on 43.3% three-point shooting. It is hard to see Miami wanting to move their top three-point weapon.
Lowry’s counting stats do not stand out this season (seven PPG, 4.1 RPG, 4.8 APG), but he is shooting 42.6% from three and played his role to perfection in last season’s playoff run.
He is not the perennial All-Star he once was, but he is the only point guard with experience on the team and trading him would leave Miami ice thin at the position.
At some point, Miami may need to add more offense as they are currently 18th in offensive rating (112.1).
But LaVine would leave the roster in a strange place. The team’s offense on paper should improve, but that is no foregone conclusion if it involves losing your starting point guard and best three-point shooter.
The defense would see regression and the offensive gains may not be enough to offset the defensive slide.
The Heat’s core has proven they can compete with anyone in the playoffs as they made the 2023 NBA Finals. The run was completed without Herro who suffered a hand injury.
Considering his absence last playoffs, he could be the offensive weapon that puts Miami over the top in June — not LaVine.
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