Duncan Robinson has not started the last two games. Erik Spoelstra used the excuse of Robinson getting back from COVID protocols to not start him at Phoenix on Jan. 8, the "Heat's" signature win of the season. These are the only two games this year and last that Duncan has not started. He did well coming off the bench against the "Suns" too, 27 points in 29' on 9/17 (8/16). But tonight? What could Spo's reason be for tonight's lineup? Keep the good vibe going? Well, that vibe didn't continue tonight. In 32' D-Ro shot 4/11 (3/10) for 14 points. No, the reason Spo didn't start him these two games is Duncan has shot himself off the starting five. Maybe off the team. Ira Winderman, while writing that Pat Riley would almost certainly stand pat at the trade deadline, did mention Robinson as a trade option if Riley did decide to make a move. Duncan's numbers have declined markedly and horrifyingly over two full, and now half of a third, seasons, from .470 to .439 to .390. "Heat" fans have seen enough, it seems like Spo has seen enough, Riley has to have seen enough.

I, though, have another trade in mind, a far more attractive object for other teams: Jimmy Butler. Jimmy has played in 23 of Miami's 41 games, 56%. There has been no catastrophic injury like Victor Oladipo, no injury so serious to require surgery like Bam Adebayo, there have been an endless series of niggling injuries, the tailbone is the one that sticks out to me, it was an ankle before then and is an ankle that kept him out the last few games, and out tonight. As with Robinson Butler's NBA history must get a long look, and unlike Robinson, there's a much larger sample size, 12 full seasons and half of a thirteenth. In his entire career Jimmy has played 82 games once, in his second year in the Association. He has not played a full complement of games since then either, not even in the COVID-truncated 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons.  I know! Jimmy is the heart, the soul, the engine of the current "Heat," the unquestioned Leader, the instantiation of "Heat" "Culture." I would say your heart, your soul, your engine, your leadership, cannot work 56% of the time. Most 'Heat" fans look at Duncan Robinson's history and are ready to rule: he can't start as a shooter on a championship-contending team. "Heat" fans will disagree with me and scream in my face and punch me when I say I'm ready to rule: Jimmy Butler is injury-prone and should be traded. You can't win a championship when your all-everything guy misses 44% of your games to continuous, nagging injuries. I'll wear a football helmet and body armor for a few days.