With various assets on the trade market, the Miami Heat should attempt to find a valuable contributor to replace their disgruntled superstar, Jimmy Butler.
While a disappointing Chicago Bulls guard who spent his first two professional seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers wouldn’t be a home run acquisition, All U Can Heat’s Jack Simone proposed a trade that would send him to Miami.
“For the Chicago Bulls, it would be a cool story to see Butler back in town, but they aren’t in a position to win right now,” Simone wrote last Sunday.
“And for the Heat, this trade package (Butler to the Bulls for Lonzo Ball, Patrick Williams, Ayo Dosunmu, a 2029 first-round pick, and a 2031 first-round pick) is downright bad.”
“They should want way more for Butler (although if he’s going to leave in free agency anyway, they could be playing a dangerous game).”
Ball, a gifted half-court and full-court passer with sound defensive footwork, was expected to have a respectable career with the Lakers after getting selected No. 2 overall by the franchise.
After two unsatisfactory campaigns with Los Angeles, during which Ball averaged under 15 points per contest on inefficient shooting splits and missed many games due to injuries, the Lakers traded Ball to the New Orleans Pelicans, who later shipped Ball to the Bulls.
Since the 2019-20 season, lower body setbacks have taken control of Ball’s career, as the Chino Hills, California native has appeared in less than 150 contests.
In 18 games with the Bulls this year, Ball averages 5.4 points and 3.6 assists in 19.2 minutes.
Ball’s far from a talentless contributor without a future in the NBA.
Still, his inability to stay healthy and concerning production should motivate the Heat to pass on the UCLA product.
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