ESPN@espn
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Jimmy Butler is unwilling to sign an extension with the Warriors, and trade talks to send him to Golden State have ended for now, sources told
@WindhorstESPN

Jimmy Buckets is 35 years old! An extension for him could be the remaining "decent years" he has left.
Not every player is going to still be performing at a high level at 40 like LeBron. Most won't be that good.

The Rockets really plan to do nothing major. Maybe a minor trade at best. Rockets want to pursue Devin Booker as early as next summer.
Funny thing is D-Book may not be available like Luka was. The Spurs acquiring De'Aaron Fox sucks though. They're going to be tough now.

One thing to note. Rockets can decide to keep the Mavericks 2029 first-round pick or Suns 2029 first-round pick.
Whichever 2029 pick is better the Rockets will have that unprotected first. Along with a 2027 Suns unprotected first.
Plus the Rockets can swap their first-round pick with the Suns first-round pick in 2025 (this summer). So that's nice!!

Rockets have all these sweet trade assets. Young all-stars, overpaid veterans and a ton of draft picks. But for who? Devin Booker? Giannis?
We didn't even get a chance to make Dallas an overwhelming trade offer for superstar Luka. Assets are worthless without a trade partner...

I've also seen the Rockets linked to Kevin Durant and Paul George. If only this was six or seven years ago. Too old now. They won't thread the needle anymore.

This post was edited by MADmartigan on Feb 2 2025 09:43pm

Now AD suddenly has his own show? This guy who has no personality lmao right 🤣

Does anybody else remember when Jimmy threw a hissy fit to leave Minnesota?????

Pepper ridge farm remembers

He has burned bridges everywhere

League sources indicate that the Houston Rockets have inquired about 4x NBA All-Star Devin Booker (28), with the Phoenix Suns open to listening to offers. While no player is deemed untouchable, the Suns (25-24) seem more eager to acquire Jimmy Butler prior to the trade deadline as a last ditch effort to compete for a championship with a big three of Booker, Durant and Butler. With Durant and Butler both aging stars and not as reliable as they used to be health wise, Booker’s future (and prime years ahead) in Phoenix remains uncertain. If a trade doesn’t materialize by the deadline the Suns are expected to revisit trade talks with the Rockets this summer.

The Houston Rockets are not interested in discussing trades for their young players unless Devin Booker becomes available, per @SIChrisMannix

“Houston continues to take a very disciplined approach to this trade deadline. The Rockets, arguably the NBA’s biggest surprise this season, have not expressed any interest in engaging with teams about any of their top young talent. As one executive put it, "Unless you are calling them about Booker, they are not interested."

The Houston Rockets have the ability to swap 2025 first-round picks with the Phoenix Suns this summer. As well as own the Suns' 2027 and 2029 unprotected first-round picks. The Rockets also have the option to claim the 2029 unprotected first-round pick from the Dallas Mavericks should that pick be better than Phoenix's pick in four years.

If the Rockets and Suns can work out a blockbuster trade for superstar Devin Booker chances are the Suns will reclaim all of their picks along with an abundance of young talent that the Rockets possess. One NBA executive says the Rockets would likely deal anybody for Booker except all-star center Alperen Sengun and rising star Amen Thompson. Meaning Jalen Green, Cam Whitmore, Jabari Smith Jr. and Reed Sheppard would all certainly be on the table. As well as high-priced veterans Dillon Brooks and Fred VanVleet.

The funny thing guys. Jalen Green has a chance to blossom into a legitimate star if the Rockets just remain patient. The kid can do it all. He's still only 22 years old. Fresh off that Michael Jordan esque mid-air reverse hands layup last night. Cam and Reed are both 20 years old. Jabari Smith Jr. is 21 years old. Jalen Green has been working out with both Devin Booker and Kevin Durant the past two off-seasons. And those workouts have greatly improved his game. I'm starting to think the Rockets should just keep what they have and keep building through the draft. Eventually the Rockets will have too much young talent and the deepest roster in the NBA. That's a great problem to have.

You can also bet on where Devin Booker is going to end up? Crazy. Looks like they're well aware of what's going on.

The Houston Rockets are the favorites to land Devin Booker in a potential trade, per @BovadaOfficial

Houston Rockets -200
San Antonio Spurs +250
Golden State Warriors +950
Atlanta Hawks +950
Detroit Pistons +1500

How’d rockets lose that game last night?

Reed Sheppard's rookie mistake. He had a career high in points but pulled up on a three in transition.
When he could've kept running for an easy 4-on-1 fastbreak opportunity. Had easy slam dunk or layup.

Rockets were up 92-88 with exactly 1 minute left. Would've been up 94-88 if Reed took the 4-on-1 fastbreak.

He missed the three. Sengun got the offensive rebound. Passed to Jalen Green who also missed a three.
Nets rebounded and then hit a three the other way. Just like that it was 92-91 with about 47 seconds left.

The Rockets are playing their worst basketball of the season right now. Rather it happen now instead of the playoffs.

LeVert so buns

Rockets are aggressively pursuing Ben Simmons on the buyout market. Houston and Cleveland want him.
28 years old. 3x All-NBA First Team defense. 2x All-Star. Rockets are thin at PG right now with VanVleet out.

Amen Thompson and Tari Eason with Ben Simmons. Wouldn't be the Terror Twins. It'll be the Terror Triplets.
If nothing else Ben Simmons will be a great fit playing for Coach Ime Udoka. He can defend at a high level.

Not many teams would be an ideal fit for Ben Simmons at this point in his career. The Houston Rockets make sense.