If he's really out for an injury yep. @D-rock i was talking about JJ being traded to the Wolves instead of Waiters
Just for the record here and to provide some clarity to all the rumors The reason why this situation is unrecoverable is because Thibs double-crossed Butler on his contract. When Butler was traded from Chicago to Minnesota there was a tacit agreement in place that they would renegotiate Butler's contract this summer and give him a max salary for this season and possibly two more seasons to help replace the money he would have given up by being eligible for a Designated Player Extension if he had stayed with Chicago. Thibs then went ahead and signed Wiggins to a max extension a little while later which kicked in this season and made Wiggins untradeable until October of this season. He foolishly thought he would be able to create cap room to give Butler a renegotiated deal. Wiggins sucked all last season. And consequently they couldn't trade Wiggins over the summer or at the draft so that they could renegotiate Butler's deal. Butler's agreement with Thibs at the beginning of the summer was Thibs was to trade him to a team that had cap space (Knicks/Lakers) that would renegotiate his deal if Thibs couldn't move Wiggins out and create cap space. The deal never happened. Thibs scrambled all summer to trade Wiggins...and then he started signing free agents in July. Wiggins eligible trade date was October 17. Deal wasn't done. A disgruntled, disappointed, disillusioned Butler smartly requested a trade prior to training camp in September. So make no mistake. The breach is irreparable. And it's about money....big money. How does this affect trade negotiations? Well, think about it. 4 picks....who is going to offer 4 picks for an expiring contract? No rational team would, even one drafting at the bottom of the first round. The catch is....Butler has to opt in to his contract for next season in order for that deal to be consummated. At this point he's not inclined to do that. (He may change his mind. Who knows.) So unless he changes his mind then that limits the value that any team is willing to put on the table for him. This is a player that feels like he was burned by management. He's a flight risk to whatever team trades for him. They're not going to put a lot of assets on the table under these circumstances. And Butler isn't inclined to help Minny by playing patsy until Dec. 15 when Minny can possibly negotiate a better deal for him. Not unless they're going to trade him to the Lakers for KCP and possibly a future pick so the Lakers can renegotiate and max him. And the Lakers aren't interested...at least not at this point. Philly is a clear possibility. But their offer is very mediocre. Chandler, Bayless, and a pick for Butler. Possibly give Minny Redick if they wait until Dec 15th? Butler would be willing to go there and if they moved out Redick, they'd possibly have the room to renegotiate his deal. But at what cost to Philly????? That's where we're at guys. The ultimate stand-off. Morey trying to capitalize. But to give up all those assets...Butler has to opt in so we control him for another season and then possibly trade him if he requests it this coming summer. Otherwise, we're not dealing all those picks without getting accommodating assets to go with Butler.
@cyberx what does it look like to you...does it look like Minny is trying get a deal done soon or does it look like they will continue to drag this thing out?
He doesn’t have to opt in for us to get a deal done. Morey already knows he won’t do that and he’s willing to take the risk that he won’t up and leave a contending team who can also give him the max after this season.
@cyberx @Nook Any thoughts or discussion of a proposed deadline from the Rockets to complete a trade prior to moving to different trade partners?
It’s almost as bad as Phoenix paying Ariza $15 million a year to take away playing time from younger guys to still be the worst team in the league
It's okay, once we make the trade without Butler opting-in, Holic will have an equally implausible reason why he was right about it anyway.
Disappointment? Not really, I don’t want to overpay for anything in life. (Yes,it’s not my Monopoly money) but the packages that were made public are just outrageous, IMO. We need to wait and trade Paul for Butler and Teague at the trade deadline. It will help both teams and fix a lot of our problems long term. Tpups get a league leader and mentor for their youth a face to the team. Tibs will love CP3. If we don’t trade for Butler we can’t have him and do think out of every possible player in the league he is Harden’s match. (Scottie to Michael). Reason why —> I think their will be a complete change in the coaching philosophy. Butler & Harden are more versatile going forward than where we are now; plus Teague is solid player in any system. Peared with an active front court we will have something and match up well with any team.
So I absolutely love reading @basketballholic post - he’s one of the ones that make this place iconic and great one of the better writers here - however this picture as a response is definitely hilarious.
The Rockets will not wait forever, at least not publicly. There is a real possibility it is negatively impacting the team. I haven’t heard anything as far as a definitive time table other than MDA wants a resolution ASAP. When this all started I said there wouldn’t be a deal anytime soon as long as Thibs has final say. He values Butler greatly and would be content letting him finish the season in Minnesota. This won’t end until Taylor steps in. I don’t see Taylor stepping in unless Butler forces the issue. We will see what happens. The Rockets are the most motivated to make a deal but the Wolves would rather not trade with the Rockets. I have personal doubts the Rockets end up with Butler for that reason.
Guys spend all of their time trying to convince us they’re insiders and are wrong every single time. Has Lebron opted in yet?
