Report: Heat ‘Consistently’ Mentioned as Potential Zach LaVine Suitor

The 2022–23 NBA Trade Deadline is exactly one week away, but there’s still more teams looking to buy than sell. So far, there’s only a few teams we can call sellers such as the Charlotte Hornets, San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, and Detroit Pistons. These four teams are likely lottery bound. Other teams outside of the play-in that most teams are keeping an eye on are the Chicago Bulls and the Indiana Pacers. And one name that has come up in trade rumors throughout the season has been Bulls guard Zach LaVine.

Should the Bulls decide to trade Lavine, the Miami Heat were named as a potential destination, which should come as no surprise, according to Yahoo Sports! Jake Fischer, an NBA insider:

The Lakers, Heat, Knicks and Mavericks have consistently been mentioned by league personnel as holding motivations to land LaVine if the time does arrive. Portland also showed interest in signing LaVine last offseason, league sources told Yahoo Sports. Atlanta loomed as a potential LaVine destination before the Hawks splurged for Dejounte Murray.

Jake Fisher, Yahoo Sports!

This hasn’t been one of LaVine’s best seasons, but it hasn’t been poor either. As of Thursday, LaVine averages 23.7 points per game along with 4.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists. Additionally, he’s shooting 46.1 percent from the field and 37.7 percent from 3-point range. However, there have been concerns about his surgically repaired knee and questions about his defense. In December, there was a report about his teammates questioning his defense. With Pat Riley the head of the Heat’s front office, Miami is always on the hunt for stars. Because of this, it should come as no surprise that they’re linked to LaVine, should he become available.

Potential Trade Package

LaVine is currently in the first season of his five-year, $215 million super max deal. It’ll likely take a hefty price to get him off of Chicago’s hands. Miami would have to part with at least two first-round picks, salary fillers such as Kyle Lowry or Duncan Robinson, Nikola Jovic, and at least one of their lower salaried rotation players. Of course, that still may not get it done with New York having so many picks available for trade. And the Heat’s best trade asset is Tyler Herro, who’s extension kicks in next season.

It appears the Bulls will keep their core three players together, at least this season. Of course, stranger things have happened before. We’ll see what happens.