This is how rockets could exchange four first-round picks against Jimmy Butler | Bleacher's report

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The Houston Rockets would be seriously attacked by Minnesota Timberwolves striker Jimmy Butler.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Rockets are offering four first-round picks for the All-Star quad.

Of course, Houston would also need to send enough salary to match Butler's $ 20.4 million for the 2018-19 season. In a team on the NBAWith a luxury tax threshold of $ 123.7 million, Houston would need to send at least $ 16.3 million in salary for a legal contract.

Although the Rockets fail to do so in a one-on-one tradeoff, a package with Brandon Knight and Nene would suffice mathematically. Knight's salary can not be packaged with Nene in a trade before Halloween, as it was recently acquired by Houston's Phoenix Suns, so any deal would likely take a week. If Wolves prefer Marquese Chriss, it would also be an option to pack with Knight.

Houston could include Eric Gordon's $ 13.5 million salary, but would certainly prefer to send Knight, who is still recovering from a knee injury and is not of Gordon's caliber. Nene is also missing until next month with a calf injury.

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The Timberwolves would not get either player for basketball reasons, but rather as a top four. Knight earns $ 15.6 million next season. Nene has a $ 3.8 million player option.

If the T-Wolves ask Gordon, the Rockets will have a difficult decision to make, because Gordon is a valuable part of their rotation. But it would not be shocking that Houston yields to the conclusion of the deal, although Minnesota may receive fewer assets in exchange.

Currently, the Rockets only have their own first-round pick to offer. Due to the Stepien rule, teams must have at least one first round pick in each other draft. The league also limits the exchange of choices to the next seven projects.

As such, Houston may offer Minnesota its first candidates 2019, 2021, 2023 and 2025. The protections would be limited. For example, a first 2019 protected by a lottery could not be transmitted in 2020, but the first of 2021 was also sent. Rockets could perhaps include a language to convert choices into second.

With Chris Paul, James Harden and Butler, the Rockets' first round in 2019 would probably be in the 27-30 range. If the trio can stay healthy and together, the first game of 2021 will probably not a considerable value, but Minnesota may get real value, theoretically, in the last two choices as a Rockets star. Paul is already 33 years old. Harden and Butler are 29 years old.

By acquiring Butler, Houston would get its bird rights and the opportunity to sign it again this summer for a five-year contract starting at about $ 32.7 million. If that were the case, the team would have invested $ 109 million in their flagship trio, plus $ 16.4 million from Clint Capela and $ 14.1 million from Gordon. Let's say, they would be considered luxury taxpayers.

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If an agreement included Knight and Nene, the Wolves would add their salary for 2019-20. Butler is technically under contract at $ 19.8 million, but is a near-lock to withdraw from his contract.

Butler's discontent with the Timberwolves stems from poor chemistry with young stars Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins, among others, from Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. Minnesota would likely forgo the playoff fight with a contract with Houston, who may not coach coach and basketball president Tom Thibodeau. Similarly, the owner, Glen Taylor, may not be important in choosing to lobby for a swift resolution of the Butler controversy.

E-mail Eric Pincus to [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.