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Report: Rockets want to acquire Jimmy Butler in sign-and-trade from Sixers

Butler is expected to opt out of his contract to become an unrestricted free agent.

The Sixers' Jimmy Butler (right) is the target of sign-and-trade speculation by the Houston Rockets.
The Sixers' Jimmy Butler (right) is the target of sign-and-trade speculation by the Houston Rockets.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer

This was bound to happen.

That’s because there have been reports about the Houston Rockets’ interest in 76ers swingman Jimmy Butler for a couple of weeks now. The Western Conference team is interested in acquiring the four-time All-Star after free agency begins at 6 p.m. Sunday.

One problem: they don’t have enough cap space to offer the Houston native a maximum salary contract.

The Rockets would have to get him via a sign-and-trade. In that scenario, the Sixers would have to sign him to a contract and trade him to Houston.

ESPN reported Tuesday night that the Rockets want to do just that. In order to make the deal work, the Sixers would have to take in two of the three salaries of Clint Capela ($16.8 million), Eric Gordon ($14.0 million) and P.J. Tucker ($8.3 million).

The Miami Heat would be another possible candidate for a sign-and-trade for Butler. However, a sign-and-trade would basically destroy any chance the Sixers would have of acquiring Boston Celtics soon-to-be free agent post player Al Horford in free agency.

Butler is expected to opt out of the final year of his contract before Saturday’s deadline to test free agency.

The Sixers could offer him a five-year, $189 million contract. They could also choose to give the 29-year-old a four-year deal worth $146.5 million. He would make a maximum of $140 million over four years with the Rockets. ESPN reports that the Rockets would need a third team to get involved in the sign-and-trade deal.

Philly acquired Butler along with Justin Patton from the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Robert Covington, Dario Saric, Jerryd Bayless, and a 2022 second-round pick in November. Butler averaged 18.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.8 steals in 55 regular-season games with the Sixers.

His scoring average rose to 19.4 points in 12 playoff games. Butler scored 22 or more points in five of the Sixers’ last six postseason matchups.