NBA Trades: 6 teams that could lure Jimmy Butler away from the Heat next summer
By Cal Durrett
Houston Rockets
A potential trade target for Butler under the radar could be the Houston Rockets. After all, Butler is from Texas and would be an intriguing trade target for the Rockets, who seem desperate to try and get back into title contention.
They could clear out enough salary to have max cap space. Pairing Butler with a young core consisting of Alperin Sengun, Jalen Green, and Jabari Smith would potentially be what each player needs, with Butler having a reputation for bringing out the best in his teammates.
Bringing him in on a two- or three-year deal might help the Rockets' young core blossom into stars, with Green making major strides later in the year. He scored 24.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4 assists over the final 24 games of last season.
Meanwhile, Sengun posted 21.3 points, 9.2 rebounds and 5 assists per game, making him a borderline all-star. Smith also made strides in his sophomore season and the Rockets have other interesting prospects such as Cam Whitmore and Amen Thompson. Houston knows they need more experience, which is why they brought in Fred Van Vleet and Brooks but adding Butler may be what helps get them back into contention.