The Houston Rockets have their sights set on four-time all-star Jimmy Butler in free agency and will pursue a sign-and-trade with the Philadelphia 76ers to acquire him, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The Rockets lack the salary-cap room to sign Butler as a free agent, but could leverage the threat of him departing for nothing to convince Philadelphia to send him to Houston, according to Wojnarowski.
However, Wojnarowski adds that the 76ers plan to be “aggressive” in their attempts to bring back Butler and could offer him either a full five-year, $190-million deal or a four-year, $146.5-million contract in free agency.
Butler would be eligible to sign a four-year, $140-million contract with the Rockets if they clear enough space.
The 29-year-old swingman averaged 18.2 points, 1.8 steals, 4.0 assists and 5.3 rebounds on 46.1-per cent shooting from the field and 33.8 per cent from three across 55 games in Philadelphia last season.
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