- This trade sends DeMar DeRozan to the Miami Heat at a low trade cost
- The Miami Heat have the ability to get DeRozan because of his expiring contract
- The Chicago Bulls add some solid young players
The Miami Heat are a team that is capable of winning a championship with the right move. They got to the 2023 NBA Finals, and the main reason they lost was due to their lack of overall offensive talent. It is clear that they need one difference-making offensive player on that end of the floor to be a special team, and perhaps a trade can help in that regard.
Forward DeMar DeRozan is a six-time All-Star, who has shown that he can consistently get buckets throughout his career. He is a player that in theory should be easier to acquire for a team, as he is in the last year of his contract with the Chicago Bulls. Here is a potential trade framework that would send DeMar DeRozan to the Miami Heat, with the crucial part being that the team will not have to give up Tyler Herro.
Miami Heat Receive: DeMar DeRozan
Chicago Bulls Receive: Kyle Lowry, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jovic
There is no question that this deal has the potential to take the Miami Heat over the top, and it definitely allows them to increase their overall talent level without sacrificing any of their core. Here is why this is a good trade for both the Miami Heat and the Chicago Bulls.
The Miami Heat Add Another Elite Scorer And Improve Their Offense
Though Jimmy Butler is clearly a superstar-level player when it comes to the postseason, nobody can win by themselves. It is clear that Butler alone on offense cannot win the Miami Heat a championship. Granted, Tyler Herro was absent for basically all of the Heat’s playoff run this season, but they also lost some key players such as Gabe Vincent and Max Strus in free agency. Adding DeMar DeRozan could help them with their offensive woes.
This past season with the Chicago Bulls, DeMar DeRozan averaged 24.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game, while shooting 50.4% from the field. DeRozan is particularly proficient from midrange, and he is at his best when surrounded by plenty of spacing to allow him to score in isolation. The Miami Heat should have the shooting he needs, as they have players such as Caleb Martin, Tyler Herro, and Duncan Robinson on the roster.
The Miami Heat wouldn’t necessarily have to give up a lot to get DeMar DeRozan, as he is on an expiring deal which means the Chicago Bulls have less leverage. Kyle Lowry’s contract (also expiring), alongside Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Nikola Jovic, should do the trick. If one can get a player of DeMar DeRozan’s caliber while giving up that little, then that is a deal that should be done every single time. With DeMar DeRozan, the Miami Heat will become a much better team, and they could easily make the Finals once again and win it all.
The Chicago Bulls Get A Solid Package For A Star On An Expiring Contract
The Chicago Bulls are a team that is stuck in no man’s land, as they have good players, but aren’t overall good enough to make the playoffs consistently or win a championship. At this point, their goal should be to rebuild, and try to win a championship in the future.
DeMar DeRozan is the first player that the team should trade, as they could lose the star at the conclusion of the 2023-24 season in free agency. Getting some sort of return for the star should be a priority, and this trade package from the Miami Heat should give them a return that could help them with their rebuild.
Firstly, the Chicago Bulls would not have to take on any significant long-term salary in this trade. Kyle Lowry makes $29.6 million this season, but this is the last year of his deal. The team could decide to buy out his contract and allow the veteran point guard to hit free agency and avoid him taking minutes from young guards such as Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu. However, they could also keep him on the roster as a veteran mentor who could help their young players with his championship experience and instill winning habits.
The two young players that the Chicago Bulls would receive in this deal are Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Nikola Jovic. Jaquez Jr. Is a solid wing defender, who is 6’6 with a 6’10 wingspan. He has the build to guard the premier wings in the league, but obviously, we’ll have to wait to see whether his defense from UCLA translates. Nikola Jovic is a big man who has a good feel for the game and can rebound well, but he is a raw prospect as of right now. Both players need playing time to develop, and they will get ample minutes on the Chicago Bulls.
Overall, this is a trade that makes sense for the Chicago Bulls as it aligns with their direction for the team. They can move a veteran for an expiring contract and some young prospects, which is smart for any team heading for a rebuild.
This Trade Could Give The Miami Heat A Championship Roster
Even though DeMar DeRozan has shown that he can’t be the No. 1 option on a championship team, he could be perfect next to Jimmy Butler as a No. 2 option on the Miami Heat. The Miami Heat wouldn’t have to give up many assets to make this deal either, and perhaps this is better than pursuing a star like Damian Lillard who would require them to give up a lot of draft compensation.
It will be interesting to see whether the Miami Heat will ever end up contacting the Chicago Bulls about a potential trade with this framework, but this is clearly something that can work for both teams due to their goals.
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