Rockets should be thrilled to land on Jimmy Butler's shortlist

The Houston Rockets are constantly in the NBA's rumor mill. It's frequently speculated that they'd like to trade for a star.

Fans are exhausted. It's still worth their time to track the rumors. Developments transpire quickly in the National Basketball Association. What feels like a "same old" rumor can have legs.

We've all seen the Rockets linked to Jimmy Butler. It's a long-beaten dead horse, but when Shams Charania is reporting that the Rockets are on Butler's short list of teams he'd be willing to join, it's a meaningful development.

That's what just happened.

Rockets on Butler's shortlist

According to Charania, Butler would be willing to join the Rockets, Mavericks or Warriors.

Two of those three teams are in Texas, where Butler is from. That's likely one driving force behind his interest in joining Houston. It's not the only one.

The Rockets are 16-8. This team looks legitimate. We're too far into the 2024-25 season to dismiss the Rockets' success as early season noise. This team is dangerous.

Would they be more dangerous with Butler?

Rockets should pass on Butler

Yes, this is a long-dead, thoroughly beaten horse. Unfortunately, the horse has just become reanimated. It's prudent to give it one more knock.

Butler is not the player that Houston needs. To begin with, he's a poor basketball fit. Sure, Butler is shooting 36.0% from long-range this year. He's also attempting just 1.5 threes per game. For a Rockets team that struggles mightily from beyond the arch, that stat alone ought to close the discussion.

Just as significantly, Butler is 35. He's a free agent this summer. The Rockets shouldn't give up assets for a one-year rental, and they shouldn't commit to an aging star who isn't impactful enough to vault them into legitimate title contention. Butler is not a sensible target for this organization:

But they should be thrilled to be on his shortlist.

The Rockets are respectable again

Butler isn't a sensible target. Is De'Aaron Fox? How about Anthony Edwards?

Neither of those players have demanded a trade - yet. Perhaps neither ever will. Perhaps another young star guard will want a change of scenery. Who knows?

The broader point is this - landing on a star player's shortlist is an indicator. It tells us that the Rockets are seen as a viable destination for high-end talent. Butler isn't the right target for this team, but Rockets fans should have newfound optimism that when the right target comes along, they'll be open to joining the Rockets.

It just needs to be a player that the Rockets should be open to adding.