Report: Four 1st-round picks for Butler

The Rockets stepped up their efforts to land Timberwolves All-Star guard

Jimmy Butler in a trade, offering four first-round draft picks, according to an ESPN report on Thursday.

The four picks, which would include some limited protection, according to the report, are the most permitted by NBA trade rules and would have to be in non-consecutive years beginning with the 2019 draft.

Picks may not be traded beyond seven years. If the Rockets pulled off such a trade, they would not be able to trade their remaining first-round picks until the obligation to Minnesota is complete because teams are not permitted to owe their first-round picks in consecutive seasons.

Butler, a Tomball native, had requested a trade more than a month ago.

Over the salary cap, the Rockets would have to match Butler’s $19.8 million contract. But they could aggregate Brandon Knight’s $14.6 million contract in a trade beginning Wednesday.

Rockets general manager Daryl Morey and owner

Tilman Fertitta have been open about their desire to prioritize short-term championship contention. For the Timberwolves, however, a deal built around draft picks would be a departure from their desire for immediate help, particularly in trade talks with the Miami Heat. Timberwolves owner

Glen Taylor has said the team would honor Butler’s trade request if he returned to the team and played hard.

Butler, 29, averaged 24.8 points on 53.3 percent shooting along with 5.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.8 steals over the course of the Timberwolves first four games.

Rotation akin to musical chairs

While the Rockets seek the cohesiveness that marked their play last season and has been lacking early this season, they will have to change their starting lineup and much of their rotation for a fourth consecutive game.

“You want to have the best chemistry,” guard Eric

Gordon said. “We have a lot of new guys on this team, and we’re trying to build good habits offensively and defensively. We’re not really discouraged. We know we have to play better and it’s a long season. Nothing to panic on. We just need to do what we do better, and that’s on both sides of the floor.”

Gordon moved into the starting lineup with Chris

Paul suspended and will start with James Harden injured, coach Mike D’Antoni said. He started Michael Carter-Williams at small forward on Wednesday, but is considering Carmelo Anthony.

“You just adapt,” D’Antoni said. “Might not be ideal, but we’re not at full strength so it won’t be ideal. We got to get by with blood and guts and playing harder and just being a little sharper on the little details we’re not doing.”