If the Miami Heat is hoping to add a difference-maker at some point this season, I suppose it isn't the worst idea to continue holding out hope for Zach LaVine. Especially after it was recently revealed that the feeling is somewhat mutual from LaVine.
According to a recent report from NBA insider Jake Fischer, while LaVine has been linked to the Heat before, there's also a belief that LaVine would be very much open to joining Miami.
“Lavine has been linked to Miami in the past — I’ve certainly heard that Miami is a spot that Lavine would like to go to”
Of course, there's still the how, when, and ifs about this entire situation that would need to be squared away, but, at least in theory, there's reason to believe that the LaVine-to-the-Heat smoke or hopes are much more than just a simple pipe dream.
There may be actual credence to the idea of this happening.
How could Zach LaVine find his way to the Heat?
If the Heat wanted to pursue a trade for LaVine, who is in the final year of his contract, there's some sort of Andrew Wiggins and Nikola Jovic for LaVine swap that would work. You'd have to imagine that the Heat would likely have to throw in a draft pick to sweeten the deal for Sacramento, espeically with the way both Wiggins and Jovic asre struggling right now.
Theoretically, though, there is a path for the Heat to trade LaVine before the stretch run.
If the Heat don't want to trade for LaVine, they could wait to see if he and the Kings work toward a buyout after the trade deadline. If it comes and goes, and a trade for LaVine does materialize, it wouldn't be that oulandish for him to secure a buyout.
He's in the final year of his contract, and it would be extremely surprising if he did end up re-signing with the Kings after this season. Assuming Sacramento continues to struggle near the bottom of the Western Conference standings, it'd make a lot of sense for both sides to explore such a move.
Whether that would happen is an entirely different question. However, there is a chance that it could happen. At that point, the Heat could sign LaVine without giving up any assets or gutting their depth further. I'd imagine that's the scenario the Heat would much rather see play out.
If the Heat is looking for a dynamic wing scorer who could significantly help take some of the pressure off Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo, and Davion Mitchell on that end of the floor, LaVine would make sense.
And with this latest development, perhaps it's not that much of a pipe dream after all.
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