Per a recent report, rival executives believe the Rockets would have interest in acquiring Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler if Butler and the Heat decide to part ways.

For now, however, the Rockets are among the top teams with a young core, and the Mavericks remain a contender in the tightly competitive Western Conference. It’s also worth noting executives who’ve checked in on Butler got the impression that Miami wants to figure out their star’s future after the season,

The Miami Heat find themselves in an all-too-familiar spot — stuck in the middle. After two Finals losses in the past five years and a pair of first-round flameouts sprinkled in, this season’s .500-ish start has the rest of the league asking a pointed question: Is this the Miami Heat team built to contend,