The Houston Rockets are offering Clint Capela, Eric Gordon and PJ Tucker individually to teams with cap space in hopes of acquiring a valuable first-round pick that could then be sent to the Philadelphia 76ers as part of a sign-and-trade deal involving Jimmy Butler:
Reporting w/ @ZachLowe: Houston’s offering Clint Capela, Eric Gordon and PJ Tucker individually to teams w/ space to absorb salary. Rockets trying for best available first-rounder for any of those three, hoping to redirect pick to Philly in pursuit of Jimmy Butler sign-and-trade.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 26, 2019
While the Sixers have privately expressed confidence in the ability to re-sign Butler (along with Tobias Harris), the Rockets are in full pursuit as free agency approaches. Philadelphia is the only team that can offer Butler a five-year max worth $190 million, and he could get four years, $140 million if he went to Houston.
There have been plenty of rumors about Rockets turmoil this offseason, with much of that centered around James Harden and Chris Paul. Houston has downplayed that and appears desperate to acquire another star to play with Harden and Paul.
Capela, Gordon and Tucker have all been important role players for the Rockets these past few years, but numerous playoff disappointments against the Golden State Warriors have Daryl Morey looking to shake things up. There should be plenty of teams lining up to potentially acquire these players if they're truly available.
Butler is an outstanding player who helped push the Sixers to the brink of the Eastern Conference Finals, but bringing him in would add another volatile personality to the reportedly strained Harden-Paul dynamic, which could mean fireworks if a deal like this goes down.
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