The Chicago Bulls have the ideal player that the Miami Heat need to add in order to really step up their offensive game.
Alec Burks’ deal has been the Miami Heat’s largest acquisition during one of the quietest offseasons of the summer. In the Eastern Conference, the Heat are fading as the overwhelming favorites are the Celtics. The Bucks, Cavaliers, and Pacers are in a better position than the Heat to take the battle to the top, and the Knicks and 76ers have made bold moves to stay with the Celtics.
Jimmy Butler’s contract status appears to be uncertain, therefore the team may be playing him for the final time. With the exception of two overachieved Finals appearances, the team may not have much to show for the Butler and Bam Adebayo era unless they make one last push toward being a winning team. The team must take a risk on a former All-player who is a dissatisfied Bulls player in order to have a chance in 2024–25.
Terry Rozier, Duncan Robinson, and the 2027 second-round pick (MIA) are acquired by the Chicago Bulls.
The Heat absorb the burden of LaVine’s dubious contract by signing two players, Rozier and Robinson. The Miami Heat are the best team to wager on right now with LaVine, as they’ll be hoping that their infamous “Heat Culture” helps him return to his best self.
A Significant Infusion of Offense Reachs The Miami Heat
The Miami Heat, led by Bam Adebayo, have been among the NBA’s least impressive offensive teams in recent years, but they have managed to stay competitive thanks to their reliable defense. Given how much emphasis is placed on defense in the team’s playstyle, the Heat are always strong defensively. Could they obtain significant defensive value by adding a scorer who has the physical attributes to make an impact?
Despite missing a significant portion of the 2023–24 season due to injury, LaVine played 77 games and finished his last complete season in 22–23 with an average of 24.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists. Although he has had some strong defensive performances over his career, it is difficult to understand why the Bulls, a perennial mid-table team, would want him to play aggressive defense. LaVine has the stature to defend, at 6’5″ with a 6’10” wingspan. This is the time, if ever, that he will feel forced to make that commitment.
LaVine is a three-level scorer who has the potential to replace Tyler Herro as the team’s main scorer. In order to keep Butler fresh for the postseason, the team has chosen to place the regular season responsibility on others as Butler’s offensive output has steadily decreased over the past few seasons. LaVine would strengthen the team and simplify that procedure.
The Bulls Keep Destroying Their Team
The Bulls have already made significant roster adjustments this summer, saying farewell to Alex Caruso and DeMar DeRozan, two of their most notable additions for 2021. LaVine is anticipated to be joined on the market by another 2021 acquisition, Lonzo Ball, while Nikola Vucevic, the last 2021 addition, is still up in the air. The team may need to trade LaVine in order to transfer Ball and Vucevic and implement a new mindset with a new core. This could be the last domino to fall.
Although neither Rozier nor Robinson would be significant long-term assets for the Bulls, their contracts are simpler to oversee than LaVine’s nearly $50 million a year until 2027. Rozier, who joined the Heat around the trade deadline from the Hornets, averaged 19.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 5.6 assists in his debut season. Robinson averaged 12.9 points per game during a respectable season, but his shooting hasn’t returned to the heights it did in 2020.
LaVine hasn’t had many trade suitors, so the Bulls shouldn’t have any trouble parting with him for this much money. Both players are simply transferable to a different team or retained. In a low-pressure setting, Robinson might take a year to establish his worth on the floor, but Rozier, a seasoned scoring guard, might be transferred nearly immediately.
The Heat Must Continue to Advance
The front staff of Pat Riley has always exercised additional caution when closing big deals that can disrupt the franchise’s operations. With the exception of LeBron James in 2010, practically every player on the Heat has had to completely adapt to being a member of the team, as they never back down from their demands.Although LaVine’s temperament doesn’t seem like it would fit in Miami, considering where his career is at, the 28-year-old would be forced to invest if he wanted to show that he was worth more than just his NBA deal.
It would be absurd to use Rozier and Robinson’s own lackluster defensive play as justification for not getting LaVine. If LaVine just concentrates more of his energy on that side of the court, he is physically more capable of being a more significant defender than either of them. The main issue will be his availability, although LaVine has plenty of time to get his body ready for the upcoming campaign after playing little last season and undergoing surgery in the middle of the season.
The Bulls should bite the bullet on this deal and go forward with the best course of tanking next season because if they continue to hang on to LaVine, they will not progress as a team. If everyone is willing to make concessions in order to make room for one another, this agreement might be advantageous to all sides.
