Jimmy Butler goes home
The Houston Rockets are facing pressure from ownership to make the playoffs next season. After a late push and nearly making the play-in tournament this season, they could see themselves as a veteran piece away from being a playoff team.
Trading for Butler, a Houston native, could make sense. The Rockets’ best players are still on their rookie-scale deals, so paying Butler would be less painful, and they have the contracts to send out in a trade.
The Heat could get back helpful veteran players like Dillon Brooks and Steven Adams, and a young player to help build around Bam Adebayo.