The Miami Heat could be nearing the end of an era.

At 6-7 to start the season, Miami doesn’t exactly look like a contender, and that’s expected with Jimmy Butler still on the roster. Could the Heat decide to move on from Butler this winter, as has been incessantly rumored lately?

If Miami’s general manager Pat Riley decides to trade Butler, the Houston Rockets will come into the picture as a landing spot for the six-time All-Star. Houston could present one of the most enticing packages for Butler, a fact pointed out by Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley in a new report released Friday.

“With Jimmy Butler heading toward unrestricted free agency next summer, trade speculation could swirl around the six-time All-Star all season,” Buckley said.

“It has been relatively quiet lately, but perhaps that is because everyone already understands the situation. As for the most recent rumors, Butler was listed as a “name to watch” for the Golden State Warriors, according to The Athletic’s Sam Amick, while the Houston Rockets are “increasingly mentioned by monitoring rivals as a team to keep an eye on” for Butler. , according to NBA insider Marc Stein.”

Buckley also outlined what a trade that sends Butler to Houston would look like:

“Jimmy Butler to the Houston Rockets for Dillon Brooks, Jabari Smith Jr., Steven Adams and a 2027 first-round pick (top-three protected).”

“The Rockets are off to a strong start, but they may be one star away from real contention. And they apparently believe that Butler – who grew up just outside of Houston – has enough wattage to fill that void,” Buckley continued.

“He fits into coach Ime Udoka’s gritty, defensive approach and could use his play and appeal to defenders to make life easier for Alperen Şengün, Jalen Green and Fred Vanvleet.”

“The Heat, meanwhile, could reset their roster to maximize Bam Adebayo’s timeline. If Miami’s development staff works its magic on Smith, the No. 3 pick in the 2022 draft, he could be an ideal offensive partner for Adebayo, as Smith contributes on defense but can outplay the opponent on offense. Brooks and Adams already have the necessary strength to fit the team’s #culture, while the lightly protected former could allow the front office to look for more in future trades.

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