Jimmy Butler has energized the Miami Heat since returning from his recent ankle injury.

Unfortunately for Heat fans, the days of watching Butler rack up points and lead the club to wins may soon be over.

At least that’s part of a current trading idea Bleacher Report suggested in a November 22 article. The story profiled 10 potential players who could be dealt before the Feb. 6 deadline, including Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga.

Could the Warriors trade Kuminga for Butler? The proposed full trading details are listed below:

Heat received: Jonathan Kuminga, Andrew Wiggins, De’Anthony Melton (eligible for trade on December 15), Brandin Podziemski, Gui Santos, a 2028 first-round pick, a 2026 second-round pick (via Atlanta Hawks) and a 2028 second-round pick

Warriors receive: Jimmy Butler and Kevin Love (tradeable December 15)

The 22-year-old Kuminga is averaging 13.3 points and 4.3 rebounds in 15 games. The athlete He recently reported that the Warriors are “more ready than ever” to trade the former seventh pick.

Kuminga came off the bench for most of the Warriors’ first three games. He’s shooting a career-low 44.5 percent, compared to his career-high 52.9 percent last year.

Wiggins would be an interesting addition and likely Butler’s replacement at small forward. He is averaging 17.4 points and 4.4 rebounds, both of which are his career numbers. The 2014 No. 1 pick is under contract through the end of next season and has a player option for 2026-27.

Still, the trade doesn’t help the Heat Nownor does it increase their chances of winning the Larry O’Brien Trophy. If the Heat plan to trade Butler, it would make more sense to sign a proven player who can get them closer to winning the Eastern Conference.

Butler and Love would at least join a legitimate NBA Finals contender. Golden State leads the Western Conference at 12-4.

LARSON PROVIDES THE SPARK FROM THE BENCH

Pelle Larsson knows how to maximize his chances whenever coach Erik Spoelstra calls his number.

In Sunday’s win against the Dallas Mavericks, Larsson scored a career-high 14 points with 75 percent shooting, five rebounds and one steal in 37 minutes. He was plus 17.

Larsson has now scored in double figures twice this year.

“It feels good,” Larsson said. “It’s about the first type of run. We have so many players off the bench who can do that and play a whole game like this, so it’s really anyone’s game and if you get off to a good start they will trust you and put you back in. ”

SIMMONS tears down “THERM CULTURE.”

In recent years, the Miami Heat have prided themselves on the term “culture.”

It helped them become one of the most successful organizations in the NBA. It’s their way of life, if you will.

Media personality Bill Simmons recently questioned whether this culture still exists on his podcast on The Ringer. He seems to believe it died the day the Heat failed to sign Damian Lillard in the 2023 offseason. After Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers said Miami was his preferred destination, they were unable to agree on a trade deal.

This led to Lillard being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks.

“Since then, the New York Knicks have kind of stolen their identity in 2024,” Simmons said. “They had a terrible year. (Pat) Riley got mad at (Jimmy) Butler. The (Terry) Rozier trade turned out to be pretty blown… Bam (Adebayo) took a step backwards. I expect that will change, but “I just want to point out that he doesn’t look like a top 15 player in the league that they were all excited about, blah.”

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Jake Elman is a writer for SI’s Miami Heat. He can be reached at [email protected] or follow him on X @JakeElman97.