When the Boston Celtics lost the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes to the Miami Heat, it was disheartening, but at the same time, their roster makeup was confusing enough that it was a little hard to say if they were a threat. That changes if they get their hands on Zach LaVine.
LaVine opted in with the Sacramento Kings this coming season, but with it becoming abundantly clear they are about to enter rebuild No. Infinity, it's easy to see a buyout is coming. There have been no reports about a buyout, but it sounds like it could be on the table.
“They've been honest with [Zach LaVine] & said; Look, all bets are off if you opt in...We as a franchise have to make a business decision w/ regards to you—& if he's going to get bought out it should happen now. Because after this it's not advantageous to anybody.” @James_HamNBA https://t.co/iZgEHeYvwq pic.twitter.com/7DSZ1Tykt4
— Dru (@dru_star) July 30, 2026
If LaVine becomes a free agent, the Heat make a lot of sense for him. With the moves they've made, Miami lost its two best halfcourt creators with Tyler Herro sent to Milwaukee and Norman Powell left for Chicago. LaVine is coming off an injury-plagued season, but he is cut from the same cloth as them.
He's never played for a good team, but that is definitely a chicken-or-the-egg situation where some unlucky breaks made that so. Besides, it's not like Jimmy Butler had the most fruitful history before he migrated to South Beach.
What makes him perfect for the Heat is that he replaces what Herro and Powell brought, which they desperately needed with them no longer on the team.
LaVine has never really been much of a direct threat to the Celtics throughout his NBA career, but Erik Spoelstra has a nasty habit of making good use of whoever he has. Butler was a star before he joined the Heat, but Spoelstra gave him quite the legacy boost. LaVine wouldn't have the same trajectory, but the Heat can make him the most impactful player he's ever been.
The Heat have been the most annoying team the Celtics have faced throughout this decade. When the Butler era ended, it was a relief. Even when they added Giannis, it felt like Miami was missing something, and LaVine might just be that something.
This would all be contingent on a buyout actually happening
Most buyout guys typically don't amount to much when they join their new teams, but the game has changed a bit. Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal were both waived-and-stretched last year, though that was because their respective teams were trying to dance around the CBA.
LaVine is simply a quality player on the wrong team (as we all know, that never happens in Sacramento). As much as people like to disparage the Kings, they are also highly unpredictable, so there's no telling what the plan truly is. What we know for sure is that his place there makes no sense.
Everything that's been brought up with him joining the Heat is hypothetical. This is also only a perfect union on paper, both because of what LaVine brings to Miami and what Spoelstra gets out of his players more often than not.
But even if this situation ends with LaVine in Miami, Boston's ready for another challenge. Nothing has gotten them down, not even Jayson Tatum tearing his Achilles. LaVine makes their path harder, but they'll be ready.
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