Houston Rockets feel confident about Jimmy Butler chances

The Houston Rockets are right in the middle of some serious trade talks and feel very confident about their chances to acquire another All-Star. The offseason is back, folks!

What’s a summer without the Houston Rockets getting seriously involved in trade talks for another star? This year, their main focus appears to be on the four-time All-Star Jimmy Butler, who they have now pursued on multiple occasions.

Jimmy Buckets had an interesting season last year in which he split time between the Timberwolves and the 76ers. In Minny, he famously wanted out as the young players were not hardworking enough for him. He was a good fit with the Sixers, though, especially in the playoffs where he had six games of 20+ points to help them advance one game short of the eventual-champion Raptors.

Not only are the Rockets looking to bring the Houston-area native back home, they feel very confident about their chances to do so. James Harden and Butler are good friends and he is surely recruiting him hard before the start of free agency on Sunday.

Confident Rockets lining up deals to land Jimmy Butler https://t.co/doH0rlv2xR

— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) June 27, 2019

How is it even possible?

The Rockets are walking a serious cap space tightrope, as Morey famously always does. It will be tough to get Butler to Houston, but it is certainly possible through the rumored sign-and-trade potential deals.

Eric Gordon and Clint Capela both would definitely have to be packaged in a trade for Jimmy, possibly to a third team. The Sixers might rather have the cap space and trade exception than Gordon and another starting center in Capela.

Thankfully, Feigen’s article denounced the rumor going around that P.J. Tucker would have to be involved. The Rockets, much like the fanbase, love what Tuck brings to the table and it would take a lot for him to be traded. It’s been reported in the past that they eventually want to move him into a coaching role after he retires.

As our own Tevin Williams wrote earlier this afternoon, the Celtics might have an interest in being that third team involved. They’ve liked Capela for awhile and they could be the ones to trade for him.

Be sure to keep checking back here and stay up to date with the latest news in this crazy offseason!