Rockets news: Jimmy Butler trade rumors and Rob Gray gets waived

The Rockets are still reportedly aggressively pursuing Jimmy Butler via trade and former University of Houston star Rob Gray was waived on Monday.

On Monday, Jimmy Butler met with Timberwolves’ president and coach Tom Thibodeau. The star continues to express his desire to be traded, according to The Athletic. The Rockets have been ‘aggressive’ in their pursuits to acquire Butler, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

The Rockets don’t have the cap space for a max player like Butler, so they’ll have to acquire him by trade. If Houston is able to agree on a deal with Minnesota for Butler, they’ll acquire his bird rights, which will allow the team to re-sign the four-time All-Star next summer.

Houston will definitely have to give up some important assets in order to land Butler, but it will almost certainly be worth it. Last season, the Rockets were just a game away from eliminating the Warriors and adding another star to their fold will increase Houston’s championship odds by an order of magnitude.

The Rockets traded away what seemed like half the team to acquire Chris Paul in 2017. That move by Daryl Morey paid off big time, as the Rockets won a franchise record and league leading 65 games.

The Rockets waived guard Rob Gray on Monday, according to the Houston Chronicle. In Houston’s first three postseason games, Rob Gray saw the court only twice for a grand total of 6 minutes and he missed the only shot he took. Just last season at the University of Houston, Gray averaged 19.3 points and 4.4 assists and he nailed 35.9 percent of his 3-point attempts. Unfortunately, he didn’t do enough in Houston’s training camp to make the final roster after signing with the team on Aug. 10.

Fortunately, Gray could have the opportunity to sign with Houston’s G-League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, since he spent a couple of weeks in the Rockets’ camp and was cut just 11 days before the start of the season.

More Rockets news

Rockets’ P.J. Tucker enjoys his time at center (Houston Chronicle – Jonathan Feigen)

“I love being the five. Any time I go to five, I love that. I tell people now, ‘put that in my bio – center.’ I’m a center. I love being a center. I get to make plays and get involved in a lot of action when I’m in at the center, so I enjoy playing center.”

Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni on new-look Spurs: ‘Underestimate them at your peril’ (Houston Chronicle – Jonathan Feigen)

“People forget. They’re good. Now, where they fit in the West, who knows where anybody fits. It will be super competitive. It wouldn’t surprise me if they’re top four. It wouldn’t surprise me if they’re five. Or if their sixth. Better not be first or second, maybe second if we’re first.”

James Harden’s stylist has made NBA pregame a runway (SB Nation – Kristian Winfield)

“I said, ‘He’s winning MVP. He’s not walking on stage doing absolutely nothing,’” she says. “I’m like, I can’t do that. It’s an injustice to James.”

Rockets’ Michael Carter-Williams expects to return Tuesday (Houston Chronicle – Jonathan Feigen)

“Rockets guard Michael Carter-Williams sat out Sunday’s game in San Antonio with a sore right knee, but he said he believed he would be cleared to play Tuesday against the Shanghai Sharks with the soreness the result of the sudden increase to training camp and preseason workloads.”

Michael Carter-Williams’ early success in new role has surprised (The Dream Shake – Colin Conners)

“Still, in typical fashion, known career rejuvenator Mike D’antoni seems to have found something in moving Carter-WIliams to a previously unexplored role— shifting him off-ball almost entirely. And honestly, considering Carter-Williams’ two best skills are slashing and defense, it’s a shame it took six years for a coach to try him at the wing full-time. Still, better late than never.”

After initial worry, Rockets confident Clint Capela’s hand injury isn’t serious (Houston Chronicle – Jonathan Feigen)

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