Heat blockbuster trade proposal brings $215 million ex-Timberwolves guard to Miami

The kings of the NBA Play-In Tournament, otherwise known as the Miami Heat, snuck into the playoffs once again as the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Very few expect the Heat to come out victorious against the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers, meaning a busy summer soon awaits. The All-Star tandem of Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo is a solid core to build from, but the organization is missing a true No. 1 option. This is why the Heat are often linked to Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant.

However, ClutchPoints has Miami's front office taking a puzzling route this offseason by trading for ex-Minnesota Timberwolves guard Zach LaVine. Bailey Bassett's proposal sends LaVine to Miami in exchange for Andrew Wiggins, Duncan Robinson, and a 2025 first-round pick via the Golden State Warriors.

"Miami is in the market for a third star because they were forced to trade Jimmy Butler. LaVine would provide the missing scoring punch that the team needs," Bassett wrote. "This proposed trade allows the Heat to get off of a bad contract in their own right, as Duncan Robinson is making much more money than he should be."

There's no debate that LaVine is the best player involved in this deal. After spending his first three seasons in Minnesota, the two-time All-Star burst onto the scene with the Chicago Bulls. He's held relatively consistent production since joining the Bulls in 2018 all the way to his lone half campaign with the Sacramento Kings.

The issue with the Heat acquiring LaVine is he's virtually the same player as Herro. Both are strong scorers with a lack of playmaking tendencies and underwhelming defensive attributes. The idea of pairing Herro with another offensive-minded guard is clearly not the answer, as Terry Rozier has fallen out of Miami's rotation in recent months.

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Adding an expensive All-Star always seems appealing on the surface, but the Heat should not look to the former Timberwolves guard to solve their problems.

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