According to an ESPN report, the Houston Rockets are once again pursuing Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star Jimmy Butler, and are now said to be offering four first-round picks in exchange for the two-time All-NBA selection.
ESPN cited sources that said that the Timberwolves are continuing to look to trade Butler, who requested a move away from Minnesota in the preseason.
Butler Could Help Rockets Compete with Warriors
The four first-round draft picks would be the most the team could possibly give up in any deal. NBA rules don’t allow for a team to trade away first-round selections from consecutive years, nor do they allow for picks to be traded more than seven seasons in the future.
According to the sources cited in the ESPN report, the discussions between the two teams on players that could be involved in such a trade remain fluid.
If the Rockets were able to make a trade with that many picks involved, it would send a clear signal that they were once again gearing up to compete with the Golden State Warriors this season. Houston lost to Golden State in seven games in last season’s Western Conference Finals, but fell behind their rivals in the offseason, as the Warriors added DeMarcus Cousins to their already formidable lineup.
Butler would certainly give the Rockets another premier weapon to lineup alongside Chris Paul and James Harden. The 29-year-old has been named an All-Star in each of the past four seasons, and last year averaged 22.2 points per game for the Timberwolves. He is also a defensive stalwart, having been named to the All-Defensive Team four times and collecting two steals per game last year.
Four first-round picks – which ESPN’s sources say would only have limited lottery protections – might seem like a king’s ransom, even for a player of Butler’s abilities. But according to NBA analyst Shams Charania, Minnesota hasn’t shown much interest in the offer. That’s in line with the Timberwolves’ reactions to other offers, none of which have convinced the team to move their disgruntled star.
Houston Slow Out of the Gate
If the Rockets are able to make a trade happen, their plan would likely be to sign Butler to a long-term contract at the end of the season. Butler is slated to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year, meaning this will likely be his final season in Minnesota even if a trade doesn’t go through.
The Rockets are off to a disappointing 1-3 start this season, with their only win coming against the new-look Lakers. The team has struggled to integrate offseason signing Carmelo Anthony, and the team’s defense appears to be suffering, with all four opponents scoring 100 points or more against Houston so far this year.
Still, bookmakers haven’t been dissuaded by Houston’s early struggles. William Hill still lists the Rockets as the third choice to win an NBA championship this season at 7/1 odds, trailing only the Warriors (8/15) and the Boston Celtics (6/1).