Dunking With Wolves
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Minnesota Timberwolves: Jimmy Butler trades to all 30 NBA teams

By Trey Flynn

TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 30: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves tries to stop a pass from Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors in an NBA game at the Air Canada Centre on January 30, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Raptors defeated the Timberwolves 109-104. NOTE TO USER: user expressly acknowledges and agrees by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Licence Agreement. (Photo by Claus Andersen/ Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 30: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves tries to stop a pass from Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors in an NBA game at the Air Canada Centre on January 30, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Raptors defeated the Timberwolves 109-104. NOTE TO USER: user expressly acknowledges and agrees by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Licence Agreement. (Photo by Claus Andersen/ Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – APRIL 23: Chris Paul #3 of the Houston Rockets defends against Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves as Jeff Teague #0 has the ball 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)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – APRIL 23: Chris Paul #3 of the Houston Rockets defends against Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves as Jeff Teague #0 has the ball 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) /

Jimmy Butler traded to the Houston Rockets

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.

So, as we’ve done before here at Dunking With Wolves, let’s realistically minimize those picks and add Eric Gordon to the mix.

In this trade, we see the Rockets losing Eric Gordon, Marquese Chriss, and two unprotected first round picks.

And as Woj and ESPN’s Bobby Marks notes below, their is a possibility of all four of those potential picks that were ‘offered’ may be unprotected as well:

"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 Chriss, which is a good move for Minny. This is a solid gamble for a team that was going to take Josh Richardson and a solo protected first round pick a month ago, so why not?

The Houston Rockets would be an insane threat with Chris Paul, James Harden, Jimmy Butler, and Clint Capela. If I’m Daryl Morey, I take this chance and put all my chips in, trusting current MVP James Harden to lead the way.