Minnesota Timberwolves: 2 huge Jimmy Butler trades to Houston Rockets

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – APRIL 23: Chris Paul #3 of the Houston Rockets drives to the basket against Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game Four of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 23, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Rockets defeated the Timberwolves 119-100. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

The acquisition of Jimmy Butler for the Houston Rockets would be huge for their team prestige and their future playoff match-ups against Golden State, but losing those four picks is a gamble.

In this trade, we see the Rockets losing Eric Gordon, Nene Hilario, and four first round picks with at least one of them most likely being unprotected.

And as Woj and ESPN’s Bobby Marks notes below, the 2025 most likely has to be unprotected:

"Via, Bobby Marks of ESPN “7-year rule allows a team to trade up to 4 picks between 2019 to 2025. The first has to alternate each year (19, 21, 23 and 25) and cannot have protection unless the pick does not rollover to the following season. Ex: Protected top 14 and doesn’t convey if HOU is in the lottery.”"

Moreover, the Wolves get at least one of these first rounders and the talents of Gordon and Nene, which is a good move for Minny. Even if the protected picks don’t workout for the Wolves, it’s still a solid gamble for a team that was going to take Josh Richardson and a solo protected first round pick a week ago.

Our next trade will be more in the favor of the Wolves, so its a gamble that Thibs plays all his cards to get this haul.