Trade idea No. 3: Heat hits rock bottom?
In one of the weirdest potential moves, I actually don’t hate this idea for both the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers. Quickly with the Lakers, they get to swap Russell Westbrook for Kyle Lowry (not great but possibly a net positive?), and then they add a proven shooter in Duncan Robinson.
To entice the Heat, the Lakers throw in one of their first-round picks and Patrick Beverley. The Heat would send Westbrook home and buy out his contract (if he’s open to it) and could actually start Beverley. Miami is getting almost nothing from Lowry at the moment and could use Beverley’s point-of-attack defense.
This trade is mostly swapping one problem for another and the Heat adds a future asset with a future first-round pick. This is an option that Miami could consider if they don’t have many other offers on the table. Plus, they add a future first-round pick to help build out a potential future offer for a star.