Could Chicago Bulls star Demar Derozan be the Miami Heat's next trade target?
DeMar DeRozan
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When it comes to free agents, Miami has always been a favored destination. Whether it's the fantastic weather, the allure of South Beach, or the unique team culture that the Heat have cultivated, there are plenty of reasons why players would want to play with the Miami Heat. One player who could be on the radar for the Heat is Chicago Bulls star Demar DeRozan.
Would a Butler-DeRozan pairing work?
Miami has always been big on stars. From Dwyane Wade to Shaquille O'Neal to LeBron James, the Heat have always had at least one marquee player on their roster. Lately, though, the team has struck out with big names such as Kevin Durant and Donovan Mitchell. It doesn't mean, however, that the team will stop trying. One name that TrueHoop.com's David Thorpe placed on the table as a potential trade target for the Heat is Chicago Bulls shooting guard Demar DeRozan.
"The Heat—with Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson, and Nikola Jović—have the pieces to bring DeRozan to South Beach," Thorpe wrote. "A DeRozan-Jimmy Butler wing pairing would give Miami a better offensive edge to overcome the Bucks and the Celtics without sacrificing overall defense."
In terms of talent, there's no doubt that Derozan would be a great addition to the Heat. He's a five-time All-Star and a three-time All-NBAer. The 33-year-old is also coming off an incredible season wherein he led the Bulls to the postseason on nightly averages of 27.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.9 assists.
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What the Bulls could receive in exchange for DeRozan
Is the package of Herro, Robinson, and Jović enough to acquire DeRozan from the Bulls? It's tough to say. The Bulls do not have to trade the mid-range maestro. In fact, the Bulls are heading to the season with a full roster—save for the recovering Lonzo Ball—and are poised to make an even deeper playoff push in the 2022-2023 campaign.
Still, it could be hard to deny a package headlined by Herro, the 22-year-old scoring dynamo who came off the bench for the Heat, put up 20.7 points, 5.0 boards, and 4.0 assists, and was named Sixth Man of the Year.
Then there's Robinson, the 28-year-old sharpshooter who is looking to bounce back from a down year that saw him lose his spot in the starting five. Jović is also a compelling talent who was selected 27th overall in the recent NBA Draft. The 19-year-old Serbian has all the makings of a future star.
Will Chicago pull the trigger if ever this trade scenario comes to fruition? That's the million-dollar question.
