3 blockbuster trades that send Zach LaVine to the Miami Heat

The Heat exchange one back court for another, swapping the younger, cheaper Tyler Herro and Kyle Lowry's expiring for Zach LaVine and Alex Caruso.

The deal gives the Heat a knock-down shooter with more athleticism than Herro and an all-NBA defender in Caruso to pair with other all-NBA-level defenders Jimmy Butler, Haywood Highsmith and Bam Adebayo.

Trading Herro is a tough decision, especially with the 23-year-old guard making about half of LaVine's salary and posting career highs in points, 3-point shooting percentage, assists and steals. LaVine's long-term salary is a tough one to absorb while Herro's is much more managable.

But LaVine has experience playing alongside a ball-dominant wing in DeMar DeRozan and a center who needs touches in Nikola Vucevic. He should be able to slide right into Miami's pecking order behind Butler and Adebayo while spacing the floor for Miami's best players.

Caruso would start alongside LaVine to give the Heat four world-class defenders. He's a big upgrade over the 37-year-old Lowry and is shooting 44% from 3-point range this season.

Herro to LaVine, when considering the value of the asset, is probably a downgrade. But the overall package represents a backcourt upgrade to help maximize Miami's championship window.