Rockets Listed as Favorites to Sign Jimmy Butler in Free Agency, 76ers Given +150 Odds

• The Houston Rockets are looking to unload players to create cap space
• Jimmy Butler is eligible for a five-year, $190 million deal
• The Philadelphia Sixers remain in the hunt to re-sign Butler

The salary-cap strapped Houston Rockets are once again in pursuit of Jimmy Butler with the NBA free agency market officially set to open on June 30th.

Only, it won’t be as simple as offering Butler a contract to sign and seal. The Rockets are over the salary cap and have some work to do in order to bring the Texas native to Houston.

Rockets' "priority" for free agency is to land Jimmy Butler through a sign-and-trade deal with the Sixers, @wojespn pic.twitter.com/jQ974Manq5

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 25, 2019

According to several reports, the Rockets have been calling around to teams with significant cap space to individually offer guard Eric Gordon, forward PJ Tucker, and center Clint Capela in exchange for draft picks that they could then flip to Philadelphia in a potential sign-and-trade for Butler.

That would essentially cripple Houston’s team depth but it’s the price to pay in order to create a potential “Big Three” that would also include James Harden and Chris Paul.

Jimmy Butler 2019 Free Agency Odds

Odds taken 06/27/19.

Sixers No Longer Favored

Despite these circumstances, the Rockets are predicted to land Butler as +100 favorites.

The 76ers were once heavily favored to re-sign Butler at -250 and the Rockets were not even in the discussion. Sportsbooks are now offering +150 odds Philadelphia will re-sign Jimmy Buckets.

But after yet another early playoff exit when the Rockets were expected to go all the way and contend for a title, the club will look to beef up its roster at all costs to win.

The question for Butler will be, where will he have the best chance to win? Philadelphia took huge strides and will likely bring much of the core back to compete in the East against Milwaukee and Toronto.

The 76ers have roughly $58.9 million in practical cap space when factoring in the luxury tax room.

The 76ers have roughly $58.9 million in practical cap space when factoring in the luxury tax room, so offering Butler a four or five year deal worth in the ballpark of $146 to $190 million is more feasible than what the Rockets would have to do.

Kawhi Leonard is reportedly interested in teaming up with Jimmy Butler if he ends up signing with the Clippers, per @sam_amick. pic.twitter.com/apmw00MizN

— Ball Don’t Lie (@Balldontlie) June 27, 2019

Clippers Also in the Mix

The Sixers have tough decisions to make with both Tobias Harris and JJ Redick set to become free agents as well. This could complicate Philadelphia’s chances of re-signing Butler longterm.

On the flip side, Butler would love to play in his home state alongside Harden and Paul, especially in a season where the Warriors will be without Kevin Durant — whether he re-signs or not.

The other possibility for Butler is the Los Angeles Clippers, who have enough cap space to add two star free agents. The Clippers, who have Kawhi Leonard in their sights, could also make a move to add Butler.

#Rockets are hoping to make a monster splash to land Jimmy Butler 👀#Runasone pic.twitter.com/iT5gd3gTa9

— Rockets Nation (@RocketsNationCP) June 25, 2019

The L.A. Clippers are +800 longshots to sign Butler, but that could be merely based on the small forward not being a top priority for the team.

Essentially, this has now become a two-team race between Houston and Philadelphia. The path Houston has to take in order to land Butler makes it less enticing to bet on the Rockets and more so intriguing to place your money on the Sixers.

Pick: Philadelphia 76ers (+150)