The Miami Heat may not be done shopping after landing Giannis Antetokounmpo.
One new name tied to Miami is two-time NBA All-Star Zach LaVine, who was recently listed by Nico Martinez of Fadeaway World as a potential fit for the Heat. LaVine has one year left on his deal with the Kings after picking up his player option for next season, though he could end up on the move if Sacramento leans fully into a rebuild.
Miami’s appeal in this scenario is pretty clear. After the Antetokounmpo trade, the Heat had to part with most of their best shooters, including Tyler Herro, and that has left them short on real perimeter scoring. Martinez pointed to that need while noting the team has already been connected to veteran options like Klay Thompson.
“The Heat have been looking for low-cost additions, and it doesn’t get much better than LaVine. In the aftermath of the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, where they were forced to give up most of their best shooters (including Tyler Herro), they are lacking true perimeter threats, which has linked them to veteran targets such as Klay Thompson,” Martinez wrote.
He also made the case that LaVine’s age and shot-making would make him the stronger target.
“At 31, LaVine is the much better option, as his skills as a shooter and explosive isolation scorer would provide a much-needed spark on offense. He played just 39 games for the Kings last season, but he was productive on the floor and could thrive under the expert guidance of head coach Erik Spoelstra.”
LaVine averaged 19.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game for the Kings last season.
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One of the more interesting possibilities involves Keegan Murray in pick-and-roll actions with Acuff, a pairing that could give the Kings another layer to explore. Murray has not spent much time as a screen-setter, but if that part of his game grows, it could open up more options for Sacramento and help unlock a different kind of offensive flow than the one fans have seen before. [Read more 🡒]