Rockets are starting to fade from the Jimmy Butler trade rumors

On December 27, 2024By Littum

Since the start of the NBA preseason, the Houston Rockets have been linked to Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler. What has followed since the rumors first arose has been a flurry of reports, an agent calling out one of the most well-known reporters in sports, and other teams being thrown into the mix, including the Rockets .

The Rockets were considered the favorites to land Butler in a trade back in early December, and while it was reported that the star forward had Houston on his list of preferred destinations, things are quiet on the other end.

The Rockets have now begun to fade away from the Butler trade drama, as they made it clear earlier this season that they do not want to break up the core for a significant roster change. Butler is 35 years old and would not fit this young group’s timeline.

In fact, the market for Butler is more complicated than people think, and with the latest statement from Heat president Pat Riley say they don’t want to trade the former All-Star, it looks like he’ll be staying in South Beach.

The other teams on Butler’s reported list of preferred destinations are the Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks. The Mavericks, like the Rockets, have not been reported to have interest in acquiring the star, while the Warriors and Suns remain active on the trade market.

The Suns could make a trade for Butler work, but it would either take minutely matching salaries or a 3rd team to make the deal happen, plus Beal would have to waive the no-trade clause…

All the while the Warriors are on the other end with Jonathan Kuminga potentially up for grabs.

— Jed Katz (@jedkatz_) 26 December 2024

For now, count the Rockets out of the teams interested in Butler. While a deal could be done by working around salaries, recent reports from Miami, as well as no reports from Houston’s end, suggest Butler will not be moved before the Feb. 6 trade deadline and certainly will not end up with the Rockets.

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