Why the Houston Rockets should pursue Jimmy Butler
According to multiple reports over the last few weeks, Jimmy Butler reportedly had problems with playing alongside Andrew Wiggins. Could a potential trade involving the four-time All-Star be on the horizon? Here’s why the Houston Rockets should consider pursuing the 28-year-old at all costs.
Over the last several years, Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey has changed the way many front offices access players, as the man who made a name for himself through the use of analytics has incorporated it to ship away given talent for pieces who have recently helped lead his squad to instant success.
In an offseason that marked the five-year anniversary of the franchise acquiring James Harden via trade from the Oklahoma City Thunder, the 46-year-old executive managed to help the Rockets front office construct one of its finest summers in recent memory by locking up the face of the franchise to one of the richest contract extensions ever in league history.
He also added several other key pieces in his quest to help Houston make a run towards an NBA championship, as the Rockets picked up two valuable wing defenders in P.J. Tucker and Luc Mbah a Moute during free agency, just days after Harden signed a four-year, $228 million extension to remain in Clutch City all the way through the 2022-23 regular season.
However, that’s not all the Rockets did.
Just three days before the start of the 2017 free agency period, Houston sought to provide the Beard with some additional assistance in the backcourt by landing nine-time All-Star Chris Paul in a surprising trade with the Los Angeles Clippers. The two players who came into last season with reputations as ball-dominant guards helped lead the Rockets to a league-best 65 wins, en route to national prominence and a Western Conference Finals appearance.
It’s a threshold that has given them a chance to pursue several All-Stars set to hit the open market this coming summer, as the team that fell one win shy of reaching the 2018 NBA Finals has a chance to potentially land the services of LeBron James or Paul George within the coming weeks.
Yet there is one particular star whose name has not been linked to Houston. He’s a native son of the city who could possibly be available in a potential trade, and help the Rockets get one step closer toward reaching their ultimate goal next season should he somehow fall into their hands.
His name? Jimmy Butler.
According to Sean Deveney of Sporting News, the 28-year-old swingman reportedly took issue with playing alongside of Andrew Wiggins during his first year with the Minnesota Timberwolves, in addition to several other young teammates throughout the season.
The four-time All-Star issued out a quote prior to the conclusion of the season that could raise possible speculation about his future out in the Twin Cities.
"“Young guys in the league don’t understand urgency,” Butler said when describing some of his teammates per Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times in April. “These guys don’t understand that you never know what the league brings, the times may bring.“I just don’t think there have been many people that have understood how important winning is to me…I put so much into this game and I only play to win.”"
Which is exactly why his hometown team should pursue him.
Although Butler may seek to secure a contract extension with the Timberwolves next summer, friction between teammates and coaches could likely lead to it being a risky move, as Minnesota could seek to consider trading its centerpiece rather than letting him walk away as a free agent after the 2018-19 season.
Should the Rockets fail to land either James or George, then a potential trade involving the following players may be enough to help Houston add the missing piece to its championship puzzle, depending upon how things shake out down the road.
With Jimmy Buckets aboard in H-Town, the Rockets would feature arguably one of the most potent lineups in all of basketball, as the 2015 Most Improved Player — alongside of Paul and Harden — would give Morey and head coach Mike D’Antoni one of the most accomplished five-tool players in the league today. It would also grant Butler the chance to play for a championship.
For the Timberwolves, this would only happen if Butler was really unhappy and wanted out. Jimmy Buckets was their best player last year and the recurring problem here is Wiggins. However, since Wiggins’ contract looks so unmovable, a package like this would grant them a super sub in Eric Gordon, a versatile swingman in P.J. Tucker and a young, raw big, along with a future first round draft pick.
That’s probably not the best package the Wolves would get for a player of Butler’s caliber, but then again, his free agency in 2019 could scare some teams off from offering a large package if he’d only be a one-year rental.
In Houston, his ability to score inside or outside, combined with his willingness to pass, rebound and defend the opposition’s best player, would make him an instant fan favorite. That would even include his new teammates, because if he were to land with the team he grew up rooting for, current Rockets like Harden have spoken highly of the 2016 Olympic gold medalist.
"“Jimmy’s one of the best players we have in this league,” Harden said to reporters when asked about Butler following the Rockets 120-102 win against the Timberwolves on Feb. 23. “He’s a beast, he’s a warrior.”"
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If he somehow becomes available, he could very well be the ultimate warrior the Rockets need to dethrone the Warriors.