I hear conflicting stuff. Still, someone that works with the Rockets continues to tell me that the Rockets have not taken Tucker off the table, he isn't untouchable. Nothing I heard from someone, but reports that Thibs is expecting Butler to report to practice and participate.... really testing their relationship.
On October 31st: Eric Gordon, Brandon Knight, Marquese Chriss, Nene, Zhou Qi, and a 1st round pick to the Wolves Jimmy Butler, Gorgui Dieng, and Tyus Jones to the Rockets PG: Paul/Jones/Carter-Williams SG: Harden/Green SF: Butler/Ennis PF: Tucker/Anthony C: Capella/Dieng/Hartenstein
I know PJ was on the table when the Rockets started discussing trades for Butler. I don't know if they offered PJ right away or not, but I can say 100% that he is not a non-starter, that he is available in the right situation. I know that there have been a couple people saying that is false but I believe what I was told.
Yea but it just seemed strange cuz no other Rocket liked it and it was a post about being on the court
No, the Rockets primary target is Butler and has been Butler since the trade demand. I can say that when the Nets called the Wolves very early on, that the Rockets let the Wolves know that IF the Rockets didn't get Butler, that they would be very interested in being a third team involved in a deal.
I mean, in the end though, PJ is not going to be included, that is what we know based off Stein, Iko, and Robinson, also COD. He may have been offered initially though.
yeah, I just don't see any way Butler can come back to that team. It would be a daily distraction. I think Thibs would be stubborn and shrug off the distraction. But the OWNER? That is where the rubber meets the road. My guess is he steps in.
i don't think it means anything. boogie cousins just liked beard's pic from our game against memphis and he not tryin to force his way to h-tine
(Not) News- Ear: Miami seems to be the front-runner as of this AM. JB told close friends that he'd sign long-term there if it came down to it - D.Wade is tight (JB has mentioned him as one of the best teammates ever) with JB. Apparently, he's telling Jimmy to force his way to Minny. That didn't work with Melo because of Ryan and Harkless/Meyers. Miami doesn't have the same issue. -Ear 2: Minny likes JJ, has great interest in Goran if deal goes through (They lack a great PG in Teague). Minny also has eyes on WInslow, Kelly O. HOWEVER: Miami wants to unload Dion, Tyler and (Hassan) Minny REFUSES to includ J.R. in any deal right now. Third Team Involvement: Minny understands that JB's departure is going to force a rebuild: They are looking for another team to take on Wiggins because he is not viewed as a leader. I have no info about any interest for Wigs...but I bet it's because of IDGAF attitude in games. (Me) What that means for Houston? I'm not entirely sure. Houston obviously has interest, but one Ear keeps saying that we're not desperate. If the right deal comes, we'll take it. Or, like I have mentioned, we'll try to grab a spare part. Depth is underrated...#DecreaseTheDrop Sorry for the (n0)News. -Cod
Honestly, I wonder if PJ Tucker was initially "on the table" but about the time Morey RTed this post, perhaps he was taken off the table.
I’m beginning to believe many of us (me included) are wrongly equating talk of PJ as meaning a package of EGo + PJ is on the table. Why wouldn’t Morey have different offers ... those with EGo as the centerpiece and those with PJ? But not both. Maybe the reason this might have gotten confused, even by insiders, is that we all assumed EGo has to be in the deal. That is, it’s much more difficult (salary matching wise) for Morey to create a package centered around PJ’s $8m, and much easier using Gordon’s bigger one...but if their salaries were the same, Morey would be just as inclined to offer PJ as EGo. Bottomline: Have we been incorrectly equating talk of PJ to mean *both* PJ+EGo, when all this time Morey might have been offering either, alone (with fillers), but not together.
I think this is where the Rockets are right now. I think they ARE aggressive as @cyberx said (probably as it relates to finding a 3rd team in a Butler deal). BUT not desperate in terms of offering up BOTH EG+PJ in a Butler deal. And I still feel like Chriss will be moved.
Asking price is "crazy". I don't think we are aggressive. We are not offering enough compensation for the 3rd team to take Dieng either. http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...esota-timberwolves-accept-revised-butler-deal
I cant figure out how you get the salaries to match with the inability to include chriss or knight. Tuck and nene is 11m and change. I also dont know if the possibility of fully guaranteeing hartenstein and zhou works either.
You can be aggressive all you want. Finding that 3rd team and all. I am thinking Minny isn't too eager making a fellow WC team even stronger. They probably prefer him going East too.
I don't think Butler would report. He made the trade request before the preseason because he wanted out before the season started. Thibs thinks that his relationship with Butler can convince him to show up, but I don't see it. It seems pretty obvious to me that Butler's agent has been in contact with the Heat and they are willing to give him a long term deal. As a side note, I spoke to a local Chicago beat writer that told me that Butler really wants to be THE centerpiece on a championship team and in a city he likes. That is an awful lot to want..... the write buddy told me that he thinks there is just too much mileage on Butler for that, and said a lot of teams have no interest in giving a nearly 30 year old Butler the max contract.
Hey man; No news is a form a news. I think we are holding firm not only as a tactic, but also because we value chemistry and are going to compete this year regardless. Now, if we straight up exchange Gordon for butler then we are stronger competitors lol, but short of Gordon + filler assets a trade might increase our maximum ability but comes at the cost of depth and raises the variance.
