THE Warriors of the Golden StateA top-notch organization urgently wants to see their team fly again and end their two-year championship hiatus.

The Warriors (4-1) are off to a hot start to the 2024-25 NBA season in the post-Klay Thompson era. They’re getting contributions from a handful of key contributors, but one of their prized young talents hasn’t taken the next step they envisioned until now.

Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga was on a trajectory toward All-Stardom last year, but his regression through their first five games of the current campaign allowed Golden State’s higher-ups to move him into a highly entertaining trade of Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler.

Warriors seriously entertain Jonathan Kuminga – Jimmy Butler trade with Heat

Adam Wells of Bleacher Report relayed a report from The Athletic, which revealed the Warriors’ growing interest in using Kuminga as a centerpiece trade to form another giant big four centered around Butler and superstar Stephen Curry:

“According to The Athletic’s Sam Amick and John Hollinger“, Rival NBA executives believe the Warriors are ‘more willing than ever’ to include Jonathan Kuminga in a trade, and they’re keeping an eye on Jimmy Butler if the Miami Heat decide to move the six-time All-Star,” cited Wells.

Kuminga has failed to fulfill his potential so far this season

Kuminga averages 11.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per night. This is a sharp regression from the 16.1 PPG and 4.8 RPG he boasted during the previous campaign. What’s most alarming is his career-low rate of 40.8 percent from the field.

Golden State is in a position where they need to maximize the championship window they have with Curry, 36, and Draymond Green, 34, before age takes over. Butler is an elite two-way star who can stand next to any of the league’s top 10 players when the lights shine brightest.

The Marquette product, along with Curry, Green and Andrew Wiggins, could form a powerful two-way big four capable of checking all the boxes on both ends of the court. Butler can be counted on for around 21 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals on 47.6 percent shooting from the floor and 85.1 percent from the foul line, which he achieved during of his last 11 seasons and ongoing.

Although he’s off to a bit of a slow start in the scoring department this season with 16.8 PPG, he remains one of the most feared clutch players and on-ball defenders in the league. Curry would benefit from a second star who can consistently put up 40 points when needed in the playoffs and bring an attitude and grit that would only multiply next to Green on both ends.

Butler is not expected to sign a contract extension in Miami and is headed to free agency in the summer of 2025, making the likelihood of him being traded this season a reality. With him in town, Golden State would instantly move into the list of favorites to win the Larry O’Brien Trophy in June.