With the NBA trade deadline looming, and even after a huge win on the road in Portland in their last game, the Miami Heat should look to be players before the deadline passes. And while they don’t have a true need at any particular position, they could use some firepower on offense.
The perfect guy for the Miami Heat would be a microwave type, someone like modern-day Gerald Green who can score in bunches in a short window, or a pure scorer along the lines of Lou Williams, and in a perfect world, someone who is like Jamal Crawford.
As it turns out in favor of the Heat, that guy may just be out there.
Late last week, reports began to surface that the Chicago Bulls were shopping 5th-year combo guard/wing man Zach LaVine. Drafted out of UCLA, listed at 6’5″ with elite athleticism, the 2 time NBA slam dunk champion is more than just a highlight reel finisher at the rim. He can penetrate and kick to the open guy, hit the jumper off the pull-up, and can function as a standstill shooter on the perimeter.
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He is comfortable playing either guard spot, and within a system such as the Miami Heat, he shouldn’t have an issue if the play or particular lineup calls for him to play more of a 3 man in certain match-ups. And while he was traded away from the team that drafted him in Minnesota, that was apart of Jimmy Butler’s first exile by request, which meant he was viewed as an asset in that deal. In looking at what could make the Bulls want to move on, who knows, but the organization is in shambles from the outside looking in so you can’t really make a sound judgment on why they would trade any player, except of course, for potential cap relief.
In any situation, the Heat could use a player of his skill.
Surprisingly enough, with Miami’s cap situation and with the help of ESPN’s trade machine, there are some deals that can be made. There was a straight up deal between the Heat and Bulls that worked, and there were two others including a third team that seemed to be a fit.
Let’s take a look.