The Miami Heat have already started making preparations for the upcoming season. After an embarrassing first-round exit from the playoffs, the Heat made it clear that they would not be running it back again.
This approach helped Miami make some necessary changes by acquiring Norman Powell. Powell’s addition greatly strengthens Miami’s starting rotation. But there remain some concerns that need to be addressed in the team’s frontcourt.
Heat center Bam Adebayo has proven himself to be a star for the team. His two-way abilities allow him to constantly alternate between offense and defense. As impressive as this feature has been, if the Heat intend to win, they need to give Adebayo relevant support.
To facilitate this, we present a realistic trade idea that allows the Heat to acquire a capable big man while offloading an expiring contract.
Proposed Trade Details
Miami Heat Receive: Nikola Vucevic
Chicago Bulls Receive: Terry Rozier, 2027 second-round pick
This trade is quite an interesting proposition for both teams. The Heat have been attempting to offload Terry Rozier‘s $26,643,031 contract this offseason. With only one year left on the deal, Chicago may see it as a favorable deal.
Similarly, the Bulls have been attempting to offload Nikola Vucevic this offseason, but there has been limited interest in the market. At a cap hit of $21,481,481 this season and a year left on his contract, the Heat may be inclined to do this trade, too.
Miami Brings In Support For Bam Adebayo
The benefits of acquiring Vucevic for Miami are immense. At 6’10”, 260lbs, Vucevic is a legitimate big man. His flexible playing style allows him to play near and away from the basket, offering a lot of versatility to a team’s offense.
Last season, the Bulls center recorded an average of 18.5 points and 10.1 rebounds. These figures are more impressive considering his shooting splits of 53.0% from the field and 40.2% from beyond the arc.
Although he is 34 years old, Vucevic remains a capable center. His ability to contribute to a team’s offense would be a vital addition to a team like Miami, which needs more productivity from its frontcourt.
A pairing of Adebayo and Vucevic has a lot of merit. With Adebayo anchoring the defense, Vucevic becomes the focal point on offense. When also factoring in their ability to stretch the floor, the potential for switching matchups with a dynamic inside-outside game could leave defenses very confused.
In addition to this, an experienced veteran like Vucevic also becomes a capable mentor for Miami’s rising star Kel’el Ware. Considering the kind of investment the Heat have made in their young center, learning from the 34-year-old could only help in speeding up his growth.
With Vucevic’s addition, the Heat would be a far more complete roster. Given the state of the Eastern Conference next season, Miami would also have a fair chance of securing a playoff spot as long as injuries don’t impact their season.
Chicago Adds Depth To Their Guard Rotation
This trade also has merit for the Bulls. While the acquisition of an expiring contract like Terry Rozier would typically only yield benefits in the following season, given Chicago’s situation, it could have merit right away.
The Bulls are expected to look for trades involving their young guards, Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu. Considering that both are due for contract extension next year, Chicago is likely to get something back in return for them while they still can.
In this scenario, Rozier could still offer meaningful contributions as a backup guard. Last season, he notched an average of 10.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. While he isn’t a traditional pass-first type of guard, his offensive contributions can be considered relevant.
With Lonzo Ball also headed to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Bulls are lacking in their point guard rotation. The addition of Rozier could be valuable in a temporary setting, either as a starter or as a bench player, depending on how the situation with Dosunmu and White plays out.
What’s Next For Miami?
The outlook for the Heat is interesting, especially after completing their first big move of the offseason. Considering that they have been linked with some teams in trade rumors, there is some expectation that they will continue to make adjustments.
A trade that could be in the works involves Andrew Wiggins going to the Los Angeles Lakers. While the Heat have made their price for Wiggins known, the Purple and Gold haven’t agreed to it.
While talks on this front have gone cold, there is some expectation for things to get moving again. Should the trade be completed, the Heat could be fielding a very different roster next season.
