Jimmy Butler Trade Rumors: Huge Offer Made For Minnesota Timberwolves Star

The Houston Rockets have made their intentions to acquire wantaway Minnesota Timberwolves star Jimmy Butler very clear.

When trade talks between Minnesota and the Miami Heat collapsed earlier this month, it was reported by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski that the Rockets were the latest team to be interested in the shooting guard and were "aggressive" in their trade talks.

It was later reported that the Wolves wanted Eric Gordon and P.J. Tucker in exchange for Butler, however, Houston were not ready to trade away the latter, and since then, nothing further has developed.

However, according to a report by Wojnarowski on Thursday, Houston are now offering four future first-round picks for the 29-year-old.

It is notably the maximum amount of draft picks allowed in a trade as league rules dictate that draft picks in successive years cannot be traded nor can they be traded further than seven years.

Discussions on the players involved in a potential trade remain fluid as the Rockets are currently above the $123.7 million luxury tax threshold and would need to clear up salary cap space.

According to Bleacher Report, $16.3 million in salary would need to be cleared and as the ESPN report notes, Oct. 31 could be a crucial date for this trade as that's when Houston can aggregate one or both of Brandon Knight and Marquese Chriss' salaries into a trade package.

Next season, Knight will notably make $15,643,750 while Chriss has a $4,078,236 team option.

The Rockets could also include Eric Gordon's $13.5 million salary for this season, even though he is a key part of their rotation, albeit with likely less first-round picks should he be included in a package.

Regardless, Houston's reported inclusion of four future first-round picks indicate they're looking for Butler to help them contend this season, especially after a poor 1-3 start. They most recently lost to the Utah Jazz on Wednesday.

If Minnesota were to accept a trade, Houston would acquire Butler's Bird rights and be able to re-sign him over the summer to a maximum five-year deal starting at roughly $32.7 million per year, according to Bleacher Report. That would mean a potential trio of James Harden, Chris Paul and Butler would be a total investment of $109 million for the 2019/20 season.

It would be worth it however. Butler is one of the top players in the league and could certainly be a piece that helps the Rockets finally get past the Golden State Warriors during the postseason.

The Rockets were just one win away from defeating the Warriors last season in the playoffs and reaching their first NBA Finals since 1995 before blowing a 3-2 series lead, although Paul was missing for the last two games through injury.

Butler is currently averaging 24.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and a career-best 3.8 steals in the four games he has played this season for Minnesota.