After yet another disappointing second round exit from the NBA playoffs earlier this year, the Houston Rockets have their sights set on a player that they hope will take the team to the next level.
All-Star forward Jimmy Butler, currently a member of the Philadelphia 76ers, is reported to be Houston’s target this offseason. The 29-year-old Houston native will become an unrestricted free agent later this month, giving him the ability to sign a contract with any team he likes.
Things are a little complicated for the Rockets, however. The team does not currently have the salary cap space to offer the maximum four-year, $140 million deal that they could give to Butler, so they’ll have to be creative in adding the star forward to their team.
According to ESPN reporter Adrian Wojnarowski, the Rockets’ plan is to push Philadelphia to sign Butler to a max deal and then to trade a package of players that could include center Clint Capela, guard Eric Gordon, and forward P.J. Tucker in order to make the financials of the deal work.
Their hope is that Butler will make it clear to Philadelphia that he is not interested in playing there, and that his pressure will force the Sixers to sign him to a contract and then immediately deal him to Houston.
NBA’s free agency period starts on 6 PM Eastern Time on Sunday, June 30th.
