The Heat let go of DeMar DeRozan’s best friend to make sure they can win a title this season with him.
The Miami Heat need to make a move to solidify their position in the Eastern Conference. The reigning Conference Champions saw their roster get worse after waiting for a Damian Lillard trade didn’t work out for the franchise. Watching Max Strus and Gabe Vincent leave the franchise was rough, and the Heat hope to use their usual developmental magic to promote some low-profile players to rotational NBA players.
The Heat are one trade away from contending in the East. Nobody will count them out given their proven record of achieving playoff success in the Jimmy Butler era, but adding another talent will be helpful. With the Heat unwilling to give up major assets in a trade, maybe they can acquire a star for cheap given the rough situation on his current team?
This trade allows the Heat to acquire a bonafide veteran scorer who is also motivated to win his first championship. Given DeRozan has proven he can still produce at an All-Star level in his two seasons with the Bulls, it may be the perfect time for him to move on to a contending situation like the Heat.
DeMar DeRozan is on the final year of his contract with the Bulls and could leave the franchise next summer. Without a winning project to offer, the Bulls likely won’t be able to convince DeRozan to stay if any winning team is interested in him. By trading him now, they ensure that they get value by moving an All-Star forward with what could be an incredibly valuable 2029 first-round pick. They could greatly expand on future draft capital if they also moved Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic after that.
Lowry won’t be a major on-court contributor for the Bulls at this stage of his career. If they’re keeping LaVine and Vucevic for a bid to the playoffs, having a genuine point guard like Lowry could help the franchise. While his numbers from last season of 11.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 5.1 assists are unimpressive, he could steady a chaotic Bulls ship enough to help LaVine dominate as the sole star on the franchise.
With Lowry also on an expiring contract, the Bulls would essentially have $30 million added to their salary cap next season while also getting a first-round pick for moving on from a talented expiring contract to a more dispensable one in Lowry.
This deal would be one that Pat Riley should do without a second thought. It’s easy to worry about a pick in 2029, but it’s clear he hasn’t been able to capitalize on Jimmy Butler’s win-now potential and make a major move to make the roster better. They’ve had the same core since 2019 which has shown that their ceiling is making the Finals. Without disturbing that core, adding DeRozan to the roster would singlehandedly improve their chances of winning.
DeRozan is coming off a season where he averaged 24.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 5.1 assists. He was named an All-Star as well, proving that he can still provide elite value on the court. He has also learned how to play with high-usage scorers around him, with his partnership with LaVine proving how two scorers can share the ball and remain effective. He could be crucial in helping the Heat handle the regular-season load when Butler is not performing up to expectations.
His playoff drop-off in the past has worried teams, but he won’t be expected to lead the Heat. He will be a third or fourth offensive option behind and alongside Butler, Tyler Herro, and Bam Adebayo. He can excel in that role and possibly the the piece the Heat needs to continue dominating the Eastern Conference.
Losing DeRozan doesn’t make the Bulls a better team, but it gives the franchise some sort of a future direction when their current core is clearly not working out. When you’re having team meetings after a 20-point blowout loss on opening night, it’s a sign of a disconnected team that needs to be shaken up, The franchise is high on Patrick Williams still, despite his injuries and slow development.
Moving DeRozan out opens more forward minutes for Williams, along with other youngsters such as Dalen Terry. It may be the best move for the long-term health of the franchise, otherwise, they’re either losing him for nothing or overpaying to retain him in the offseason.
The Miami Heat get a reliable offensive option not named Tyler Herro on their squad in this deal. Lowry had a great prime in the NBA and is a deserving NBA Champion, but the Heat cannot afford to spend $30 million on him this season, especially as a team that’s already over the cap. Swapping the Lowry contract for his former teammates will not only make the team better now, it’ll allow them to re-sign DeRozan in the summer to possibly a cheap long-term deal or a short-term expensive contract.
Winning in the NBA this season will not be easy, and teams will be ultra-prepared for matchups against the Heat. Adding DeRozan is the perfect move for a franchise that completely whiffed on improving its roster during the season.