Jimmy Butler Trade Rumors: Deal Won't Happen Unless Rockets Include Eric Gordon

No Houston Rockets trade for wantaway Minnesota Timberwolves star Jimmy Butler will be mandated unless Eric Gordon is included in the package.

It was reported last week by ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski the Rockets had offered four future first-round picks, notably the most a team can offer as per league rules, for Butler's services.

Houston would also need to offer players to clear up cap space and appease Minnesota into a deal. According to ESPN's Malika Andrews, though, Gordon's presence in a trade package is mandatory for a deal to take place.

Minnesota head coach Tom Thibodeau, who was previously reported to only want veterans in return as opposed to draft picks and young prospects, is looking to make the most out of a potential trade to ensure his team make the playoffs for the second season in a row.

The Rockets though, are only offering up Brandon Knight and Marquese Chriss, according to the Athletic's Shams Charania, both of whose salaries can be aggregated into a trade package as of Wednesday this week.

Minnesota were previously reported to want Gordon and P.J. Tucker in a trade deal but Houston were reluctant to trade the latter. But with four first-round picks offered, they would be reluctant to add Gordon into a package as well.

The 30-year-old shooting guard is a key part of Houston's rotation, being the reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year, and averaged 18.0 points on 42.8 percent shooting, 2.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists last season.

He has two years and $27.5 million remaining on his contract, and should Houston decide to include him, they would have the cap space to trade for Butler and re-sign him over the summer to a maximum five-year deal starting at roughly $32.7 million per year.

Including Gordon, who will be owed $13.5 million in the 2019/20 season, would ideally also see Houston reduce the first-round picks they've offered.

However, should Houston decide otherwise, the Miami Heat and the Philadelphia 76ers are teams that remain interested in Butler, according to Andrews.

The 29-year-old was said to prefer a move to Miami but trade talks collapsed earlier this month despite a deal seemingly being agreed.

As for the Sixers, they too were interested in Butler but Minnesota were reported to have wanted Rookie of the Year Ben Simmons in return which was way too ambitious an ask.

Wolves owner Glen Taylor is hoping the two teams "become more aggressive" in their efforts to land the shooting guard.

Butler most recently featured in Minnesota's embarrassing 125-95 home loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday. He scored just four points in 24 minutes of action, reducing his current season average from 24.8 points to 20.6 points in the five games he has played in.

The Marquette graduate also averages 5.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 3.4 steals per game.