1 week Ago By Jonah Kubicek
After losing Klay Thompson to the Dallas Mavericks and re-tooling their depth chart, the Golden State Warriors are currently the best team in the Western Conference. Steve Kerr has mastered the 12-man rotation, and the Dubs look like they have returned to the level of play introduced by their dynasty in the 2010s. Despite their success, the Warriors have been linked to some of the best players in the NBA, ranging from far-fetched mock trades involving Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo to more realistic deals for Brandon Ingram and, frequently, Jimmy Butler .
Butler and the Miami Heat are off to a disappointing 6-7 start, although a lot of that can be attributed to Butler and Bam Adebayo's rough stretch to begin the season. Tyler Herro has been the best player in South Beach, and if the two All-Stars can get back on track, the Heat can certainly compete in the last year of Butler’s contract, which is likely why they have been hesitant to trade him away. Even without Butler being involved, the Heat and Warriors could still make a deal that would benefit both teams.
The Warriors have a glaring lack of size, with no player on the roster taller than 6-foot-9, aside from two-way rookie Quinten Post, who is yet to make his debut. The Heat, on the other hand, are starting Kevin Love and Nikola Jović at power forward, and neither of them are averaging more than 10 points a game. With Johnathan Kuminga (14 points per game) and the Warriors unable to agree on a contract extension and restricted free agency looming, the fourth-year forward has been included in rumors of his own.
If the Heat sent rookie center Kel’el Ware, Josh Richardson and a 2029 first-round pick to Golden State, they would likely be able to pry away Kuminga, bolstering their forward rotation. The Warriors, meanwhile, would add another shooting guard to play behind the often-injured De’Anthony Melton and disappointing Brandin Podziemski and a high-level young center who hasn’t gotten much opportunity in Miami. With Steve Kerr’s ability to seemingly insert anyone into the lineup, the young Ware should be able to thrive and help propel the Warriors’ two-timeline approach.
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