Blockbuster Trade Proposal Sends Bulls’ Zach LaVine To Heat

One NBA analyst proposed that the Miami Heat acquire Zach LaVine from the Chicago Bulls. 

Ishaan Bhattacharya of Fadeaway World proposed the following mock trade between the Bulls and Heat:

Miami Heat Receive: Zach LaVine

Chicago Bulls Receive: Terry Rozier, Duncan Robinson, 2027 Second-Round Pick (MIA)

LaVine and the Bulls want to part ways, but Chicago hasn’t found a taker for the veteran shooting guard due to his injury history and massive contract. 

LaVine played in just 25 games in 2023-24. He underwent season-ending right foot surgery in February.

A two-time All-Star and a two-time Slam Dunk Contest champion, LaVine averaged 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.3 blocks in 2023-24 while shooting 45.2% from the field, 34.9% from beyond the arc and 85.4% from the free-throw line.

LaVine signed a five-year, $215 million contract with the Bulls in July 2022 during unrestricted free agency. 

A UCLA product, LaVine has career averages of 20.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.3 blocks with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Bulls.

The Bulls missed the playoffs in 2024, while the Heat lost to the Boston Celtics in the first round in five games. 

Miami would have a “Big 3” of LaVine, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo if the Heat’s front office acquired LaVine from the Bulls. 

LaVine hasn’t requested a trade from the Bulls, but he’s not happy in Chicago. According to NBA reporter Jamal Collier of ESPN, LaVine has felt “singled out” during Bulls film sessions.

“LaVine has also felt singled out during film sessions and feels like he has taken too much blame for the team’s losing during his tenure — which has produced one playoff appearance in seven years — despite other roster failings, sources told ESPN,” Collier reported. 

The Bulls acquired LaVine from the Timberwolves in 2017. They have made the playoffs once in the LaVine era, losing to the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round in 2022 in five games.  

Chicago traded Butler to Minnesota for LaVine in 2017. It would be ironic if LaVine and Butler became teammates in Miami.