It took just one game for this Rockets star trade target to emerge

The 2024-25 NBA season has barely gotten underway. The Houston Rockets have played just one game.

Don't remind you, right?

The Rockets weren't the only team that was left disappointed with their opening salvo. For example, the Miami Heat were destroyed by the Magic in their first contest. For a team that's already the subject of speculation, that's not ideal.

Is Jimmy Butler part of the future in Miami? Will the Heat trade the future Hall of Famer?

Will they trade him to the Rockets?

This isn't the first time SpaceCityScoop has entertained that suggestion. It's not the first time it's been mentioned outside of this website. Still, this is the first time (to our knowledge) that The Ringer's Bill Simmons has suggested a Butler-to-Houston situation.

Prominent NBA insider suggests Butler to Rockets

Feeling a bit of deja vu?

"The Houston thing didn't feel right to me yesterday. I like all their players but I'm not sure they know which players to play. They're dying to make a three-for-one trade"

-Bill Simmons, The Ringer

You're not alone. The Rockets may need to consolidate some of their young players in time. It's been discussed ad nauseum. Jimmy Butler seems to be a popular target for the organization.

Some logic likely drives that popularity. Butler is a Houstonian. He also typifies the grit and defensive intensity that Ime Udoka is looking to instill in this roster. None of those facts make him the right target for the Rockets.

I'll state it again. Butler is unequivocally the wrong target for the Houston Rockets.

Rockets shouldn't invest in aging star

Remember that blowout we mentioned? Did Butler do everything in his power to stave off the Magic?

If so, that's concerning. Butler finished the game with three points.

Three.

It's just one game. Butler won't finish the 2024-25 season averaging 3.0 points per game. Still, this points to the overarching concern about acquiring Butler. He is aging. He is likely declining.

Why should the Rockets want him now?

Consolidation may be inevitable for the Rockets. They should not consolidate young players and draft picks for a 35-year-old who is distinctly declining.

Sure, Butler's decline could mean that's available at a discount. Unless he's free, that's a moot point. If the Rockets sent the Heat just one member of their core 7 and just one first-round pick, it will substantially weaken their standing in the trade market. The Rockets need everything that isn't nailed down if they're eventually going to acquire a superstar player.

Butler is still a good NBA player. He will inevitably drag the Heat - or whichever team he lands on - to some wins this year. He also does nothing to further the Rockets' eventual goal of competing for the NBA title.

He should land on a team that's already in the running. The Thunder could make themselves heavy title favorites by bringing in Butler this year. The Warriors could return to title contention after landing Butler. Who knows? A new team could emerge as title contenders:

After all, the NBA season is still young.