THE Houston Rockets are going all out to take Jimmy Butler off the Minnesota Timberwolves’ hands.
After a franchise-best 65-win season, and a deep playoff push, the Rockets’ start to the new season apparently has them desperate. It didn’t help that James Harden just went down with a minor injury, and Chris Paul got suspended, but they’re now 1-3 and willing to go all in.
That includes trading away as many first rounders as possible. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, that’s exactly what the Rockets are offering for Butler.
The reporting that complemented this includes the fact that the Timberwolves have continued to solicit offers on Butler since the start of the season, as well as the players involved in these discussions remaining fluid.
Foxtel is your home for LIVE NBA, NBL & WNBL action. Get Sport HD + Entertainment with no lock in contract and no iQ4 set up costs. Get Foxtel Sport. T&C’s Apply
Giannis outdoes Ben trip-dubGiannis outdoes Ben trip-dub1:09
The willingness to offer four first round picks is a clear indicator that the Rockets are willing to throw all of their eggs in this Paul-Harden leadership duo, flanked by Butler, Clint Capela, and Carmelo Anthony.
This could be a pure desperation move for a team that doesn’t look the same as they did, last season, with the Rockets in the bottom half of the league on both offence and defence. Harden has just been ruled out of a few games, and James Ennis will be out for even longer.
What this could be, however, is the Timberwolves leaking this offer in order to get other teams to come back to the table.
7-year rule allows a team to trade up to 4 picks between 2019 to 2025. The first has to alternate each year (19, 21, 23 and 25) and cannot have protection unless the pick does not rollover to the following season. Ex: Protected top 14 and doesn’t convey if HOU is in the lottery.
Bobby Marks, who now works for ESPN, had unique history with this sort of situation.
He was the assistant general manager for the Brooklyn Nets when they traded three first round picks for a host of ageing, has-been superstars. That didn’t work out well, and the Nets have paid for it over the last few seasons.
There is a difference, though, because the Rockets are currently a team that can legitimately contend for a title, but this remains a giant risk for Daryl Morey.