The Houston Rockets reportedly believe they have a chance at acquiring All-Star small forward Jimmy Butler this summer, according to Tim MacMahon of ESPN.
Butler becomes an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Stephen A. Smith of ESPN reported last week Butler and Rockets superstar guard James Harden have been talking this summer about playing with each other.
“I'm hearing these rumblings about Jimmy trying to get back there,” said Brian Windhorst on the Hoop Collective Podcast.
“They're real rumblings,” replied Tim MacMahon. “The Rockets think they have a chance.”
The Rockets currently don't have the cap space to sign Butler to the max contract he'll command on the open market. Houston would likely need to do a sign-and-trade to land Butler, who is a four-time All-Star and an elite two-way player.
The Rockets tried to trade for Butler at the beginning of the 2018-19 season when Butler requested a trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Sixers acquired Butler in exchange for Jerryd Bayless, Robert Covington, Dario Saric and a 2022 second round pick.
A Big 3 in Houston of Harden, Butler and Chris Paul would be lethal, although the Rockets could include Paul in a possible sign-and-trade to acquire Butler, who averaged 18.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists this past season with Minnesota and Philly.
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