Rockets star trade target just got more expensive with legend's latest move

NBA fans tend to evaluate trade scenarios from one side. If you're a fan of the Houston Rockets, you're thinking about how a deal impacts the Rockets.

It's human nature. When a star player like Jimmy Butler is linked to the Rockets, you won't ask yourself how the Heat would feel about moving Butler. His availability is a foregone conclusion - the only question is whether the Rockets should be interested in him.

As it turns out, the Heat have feelings too. Specifically, legendary team president Pat Riley has thoughts. He issued a strong statement indicating that Butler isn't going anywhere.

Pat Riley crushes Rockets' Jimmy Butler dreams

RIley unequivocally stated that Butler isn't available.

“We usually don’t comment on rumors, but all this speculation has become a distraction to the team and is not fair to the players and coaches. Therefore, we will make it clear — we are not trading Jimmy Butler.”

-Pat Riley, Heat team president

This is unorthodox. Team presidents don't typically issue statements about trade rumors. It's generally best practice to keep your cards close to your chest. If Riley goes to these lengths to fend off trade rumors, he must be telling the truth.

Right?

Rockets still have a chance to land Butler

No!

It's smokescreen season in the National Basketball Association. The trade deadline is rapidly approaching. This could be a calculated move by a notoriously calculated man. If Butler is known to be available, his value drops. If rivals believe that the Heat want to keep Butler, that drives up his price.

Granted, Riley's rivals are (mostly) intelligent too. They understand that misdirection is a viable strategy in the trade market. Rockets General Manager Rafael Stone surely understands that whether Butler is available or not, whatever Riley publicly says about his availability isn't credible.

Nobody but Riley and the rest of the Heat's brass knows if Butler is available. Even if he is, the Rockets should look the other way.

Rockets don't need Butler - whether he's available or not

Yes, I've made my feelings perfectly clear on this issue.

I'll continue to write about it until the deadline passes, and Butler is not a Rocket.

The Rockets are 21-9. This is one of the best teams in the NBA, and they're young. There shouldn't be any urgency for the Rockets to make a win-now deal.

Sure, there are permutations of deals that could be beneficial for the Rockets. If the Heat were willing to accept a bundle of expiring contracts and a heavily protected first-round pick, the Rockets should pull the trigger. That doesn't feel realistic:

Any deal has to benefit the Heat as well.