With the Heat said to be open to listening to inquiries on star forward Jimmy Butler, the Rockets have been identified multiple times as a possible landing spot for the Houston native. However, while Rafael Stone couldn’t address Butler specifically, the Rockets general manager made it clear during a SiriusXM NBA Radio appearance on Tuesday that he doesn’t plan to pursue a star on the trade market this season (Twitter audio link).
“Of course, my job is to be open to everything, so I’m not going to not do my job,” Stone said. “(But) we like this team. We definitely do not intend to change anything and I would be shocked if something changes this season.
“We like where we’re at. We want to continue to develop our guys, full stop. Will I listen to other teams? Of course I will, that’s my job. But again, there’s no part of me, there’s no part of our decision-making process that suggests that we’re looking to do anything big now or in the near term.
“We definitely want this group to be as good as it can be this year and then we’ll evaluate things at the end of the year. But the hope is very much that this core group can lead us to where we want to go and that – from a transactional perspective – we’re largely done.”
That messaging isn’t new. Reporting from both The Athletic and ESPN in recent weeks indicated the Rockets are spreading the word that they’re not interested in breaking up their core this season. Stone is now expressing that sentiment publicly and even taking it a step further, suggesting that Houston’s belief in its current roster is so strong that the team won’t be looking to shake up the roster even after this season.
Whether Stone and the Rockets stick that stance remains to be seen. It will depend in part on how the rest of the 2024/25 campaign plays out and how the club’s young players continue to develop.
Of course, Stone’s comments and the Rockets’ position could also be a negotiating tactic. That was one point that ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst made during their discussion about Houston’s plans on an episode of the Hoop Collective podcast last week.
“This is exactly what you do when you have 19 interesting trade assets, all these draft picks and all these young guys,” Bontemps said at the time. “You say, ‘Hey, every good thing we’ve got, we’re not sure we’re going to do anything with any of those.’ And then you start to negotiate.”
The 16-8 Rockets, the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, are loaded with valuable trade chips – including players and future draft picks – and are well equipped to make a major deal if the right player is available. Seven players on the roster were first-round picks in the past four drafts and are 23 or younger. Houston also controls an extra first-round pick and draft swap rights in both 2027 and 2029.
Dumbest thing they could do would be to trade away young studs for always injured old guy. Its not like they are ready for a championship run yet anyway. Would be so refreshing to see a NBA GM not do the stupid thing like they all do 99% of the time.
It is hard to not do stupid things when the going rate for a player like Max Strus is $17 million per year.
What young “studs” does Brooklyn have??? Dangle Cam Thomas around the league as trade bait, and see how little you get offered back in return unless you want to take on a massive contract a team doesn’t want. How many studs does Nic Claxton need around him to actually allow him to help you win???
the Heat is going to find out that nobody wants to trade for the star since he is a free agent and the cost would be too high. Rockets have a good team and don’t need Butler if it means it will cost them young stars.
Lakers will, they have salaries for a deal and fr picks.
It would take Russell, Hachimura, Vincent, JHS for Butler and Bryant/Burks
That would be a bad move if they went all in for Butler just to see him leave next year.
there wouldn’t be anyone there other than Bronnie for LeBron’s age 43 season!?!?!
Brooklyn is the team to watch for Jimmy Butler. No they are not a contender, but they are eager to land a star veteran, and will be among the few teams able to add enough cap space to trade for him, and give him the contract he wants. Jimmy will take the money.
Everything single thing you said last year was wrong.
That would be a big mistake for them after do it for Simmons and got nothing to show for it.
“eager” not really. They are happy with letting their cap space be free and they havent even committed to anything on Cam Thomas RFA yet either.
The NBA is now entertainment and marketing. Brooklyn lacks a true “star”. This is what they seek. Jimmy Butler has already spoken favorably about Brooklyn ….. He knows they are one of the few teams that has the ability to pay him what he wants. Take a look at the free agent list for next year. Other than Jimmy Butler, who would they really want, and who can they get. They can get Jimmy Butler.
Brooklyn will go in the opposite direction. They will try to trade as many of their good vets as possible by the deadline. They got their picks back w full intention to tank.
Very Barry said:
> The NBA is now entertainment and marketing.
> Brooklyn lacks a true “star”. This is what they seek.
Outside of arena/stadium and market size, winning is the single most important factor for financial success in pro sports, especially for large market teams like Brooklyn. Ticket prices and advertising revenue rise and fall with wins and losses.
The Nets current personnel decisions are not tied to acquiring an established star, but to acquiring a young core that will evolve into a winning team over the next 2-3 years. That’s why nonody expects the Nets to trade for a 35 year-old on an expiring contract.
Minnesota 2 or Sac. Sabonis would be great next to Bam. GSW could trade Wiggins.
This Stone dude knows what he’s doing …. he has the moneyball aspects of the game.
But unlike his old boss Morey, he’s not all in with the analytics.
This post-Harden rebuild has been great so far.
Yup, it’s wise for these ROCKETS to marinate first, see how deep they get this season.
No Jimmy, for now.