• The Miami Heat would get an elite star in Karl-Anthony Towns

• The Minnesota Timberwolves would get Zach LaVine to create a dynamic backcourt with Anthony Edwards

• The Chicago Bulls get a trade package that lets them go younger

The Miami Heat have been one of the teams in the hunt for a star this offseason, after making the Finals and losing to the Denver Nuggets. However, the team has not made much traction thus far on acquiring Damian Lillard, who is clearly their primary target.

Most people would agree that the Miami Heat don’t have the assets to acquire Damian Lillard, and perhaps it is time for the team to go for a different target. The Minnesota Timberwolves are a team that could be a suitable trade partner, as there were some reports that suggested they are shopping big man Karl-Anthony Towns. Here is a three-team framework that also involves the Chicago Bulls.

Miami Heat Receive: Karl-Anthony Towns

Minnesota Timberwolves Receive: Zach LaVine

Chicago Bulls Receive: Tyler Herro, Caleb Martin, 2027 First-Round Pick (MIA), 2029 First-Round Pick (MIA)

This trade would definitely be a solid proposition for all three teams, and every team will walk away from the negotiating table feeling good. Here is why each team should consider making this deal.

The Miami Heat Get An Offensive Star In Karl-Anthony Towns

At this point in time, it is fair to say that Karl-Anthony Towns is the best 3PT shooting center in the league. He has a career 3PT shooting percentage of 39.5%, which is elite for a big man. On top of his 3PT shooting ability, Towns also has a solid post-up game and can score from midrange as well.

There is no doubt that Karl-Anthony Towns is one of the most versatile scorers in the league, and that is exactly the sort of player that the Miami Heat need. They lost to the Denver Nuggets due to their relatively poor offense, and Towns would ensure that they have an elite No. 2 scorer behind Jimmy Butler. Last season, Karl-Anthony Towns averaged 20.8 PPG, 8.1 RPG, and 4.8 APG for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The reason that Karl-Anthony Towns is so intriguing for the Miami Heat as well is due to his frontcourt fit with Bam Adebayo. His 3PT shooting ability ensures that the Miami Heat would still have good spacing even while running two big men, and Adebayo’s defensive ability should also cover for Towns’ deficiencies on that end of the floor. Running a frontcourt with two big men isn’t commonly done in the modern era, but in this scenario, it could work due to Adebayo being mobile enough to guard all five positions and Towns providing shooting. The Heat would also have a rebounding advantage, which is important to win at the highest level.

Overall, getting Karl-Anthony Towns would help the Miami Heat take the next step as a team. They would have to find another star to send to the Minnesota Timberwolves so they can remain competitive with Anthony Edwards, which is why the Chicago Bulls are looped into this trade.

The Minnesota Timberwolves Create A Dynamic Scoring Backcourt With Zach LaVine

The Minnesota Timberwolves trading for Rudy Gobert did not have the desired effect for them in terms of becoming a championship contender. They ended up making the playoffs but were eliminated by the Denver Nuggets in the first round. As of right now, the team’s focus should be on trying to be a better team with Anthony Edwards, and acquiring a dynamic backcourt partner for him in Zach LaVine could be the answer.

Last season, Zach LaVine averaged 24.8 PPG, 4.5 RPG, and 4.2 APG for the Chicago Bulls, but despite his individual brilliance, the team was eliminated in the play-in tournament. His best role is likely as a No. 2 behind a budding superstar like Anthony Edwards, and he has some experience playing point guard as well.

The reason that Zach LaVine will likely work better than Karl-Anthony Towns on the Minnesota Timberwolves is due to positional fit. He would slot in perfectly at either guard position, and then the team could run Kyle Anderson at SF and Jaden McDaniels at PF. If the team wants to go big, they could potentially run Naz Reid at the C position as well.

Overall, this deal is about fit for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Karl-Anthony Towns and Zach LaVine are on similar tiers as players, but LaVine’s superior fit is the reason to do this deal.

The Chicago Bulls Get A Trade Package That Helps With Their Rebuild

The Chicago Bulls are a team that is kind of stuck in no man’s land as of right now. Though they have good players, there is no clear pathway for the team to win a championship. Zach LaVine is their best trade chip, and moving him could help kickstart a rebuild.

The main player that the Chicago Bulls would get in this deal is Tyler Herro, who would immediately slot in at the shooting guard position for the Chicago Bulls. Herro is a solid scorer, and he averaged 20.1 PPG, 5.4 RPG, and 4.2 APG for the Miami Heat last season. Going to the Chicago Bulls will allow him to expand his game more than what he has shown with the Miami Heat, and it’d be interesting to see how Herro would develop in a setting where he would be the No. 1 option.

On top of Herro, the Chicago Bulls would also receive Caleb Martin and two first-round picks to send out Zach LaVine. Caleb Martin is a solid 3 and D player who can be traded later down the line, while the two picks get the Chicago Bulls some draft capital to select prospects. Overall, this is a quality package for a mid-tier star like Zach LaVine.

This Trade Could Help The Miami Heat Win A Championship

There is no doubt that this trade could potentially be a game-changer for the Miami Heat. Adding an offensive presence like Karl-Anthony Towns would give them an opportunity to improve, and Towns could definitely be the element that takes them from a Finals team to a championship-level team.

It remains to be seen if the three teams end up coming together on a deal with this framework. It could certainly be beneficial for all parties involved, and we’ll see what ends up happening in the future.