While the two sides have been linked for more than a year, there hasn’t been any action regarding the Miami’s Heat pursuit of Chicago Bulls guard Zach Lavine.
With the Heat coming off of a first-round exit in last season’s playoffs, and the Bulls amid another post-Jordan rebuild, the murmurs around a potential deal are beginning anew.
Frederick Okocha of Last Word on Sports believes LaVine possesses plenty of skills to help the Heat make a run at their third appearance in the NBA Finals in six seasons.
“His ability to score in bunches, create his own shot, and contribute as a secondary playmaker makes him an attractive option for teams looking to make a deep playoff run,” Okocha said.
Lavine has scored plenty of points since being traded from the Minnesota Timberwolves to the Bulls in 2017, averaging 24.2 points per game over seven seasons in the Windy City.
Postseason success has eluded LaVine, with him appearing in only one playoff series, a 1-4 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in 2022. He’s also coming off a major injury, having missed most of last season following foot surgery.
The Heat could finally be ready to make the move to provide some support for Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. Butler will be 35 years old at the start of the season, and Adebayo is coming off of a busy summer with Team USA.
LaVine still has two years and $88 million remaining on his contract with a $49 million player option for the 2026-27 season, so there’s a major financial risk. But for a team looking to win now, like the Heat, the upside could be well worth it.
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