Isiah now thinking Butler doesn't do it

[timvp]

Isiah now thinking Butler doesn't do it
BY FRANK ISOLA
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Isiah Thomas is having second thoughts on matching the three-year, $7 million offer sheet Jackie Butler received from the San Antonio Spurs.

According to sources, Thomas is surprised that the center, who is entering his second season, managed to secure a contract that dwarfs the $900,000 the Knicks offered him. The same source said there is a "50-50 chance" that Butler won't return. Thomas has until Wednesday to match the offer.

The Knicks already have 14 players under contract, and Thomas is finding it hard to justify signing Butler for $7 million when he could be the team's third-string center behind Eddy Curry and Jerome James.

Thomas, however, has a soft spot for the 6-10 Butler, whom he signed out of the CBA two years ago on the advice of former scout Del Demps, who now works for the Spurs. There is a good chance that former Knicks coach Larry Brown gave his good friend, San Antonio head coach Gregg Popovich, a thorough scouting report on Butler.

The Knicks have had strange dealings with the Spurs in recent years. Three years ago, Thomas agreed to send Kurt Thomas to San Antonio for Malik Rose only to rescind the offer at the last minute.

The following season, Thomas sent Nazr Mohammed to the Spurs for Rose, and Mohammed helped San Antonio win the le. Now, Butler could be replacing Mohammed, who is now a Piston.

Holy crap, there is a chance.

Please, Isiah. We neeeeeed him.

[Sense]

*starts flipping coins*

[timvp]

This is from the same newspaper who said that according to their sources the Knicks were going to match.

So recently, all the news is that the Knicks might actually not match.

The pulse is faint but we still have one.

[T Park]

There is a good chance that former Knicks coach Larry Brown gave his good friend, San Antonio head coach Gregg Popovich, a thorough scouting report on Butler.

LJ didn't you suggest that?

Right on.


50/50

Thats more than we thought at the beginning of the day.

Thomas, however, has a soft spot for the 6-10 Butler

Thats a tough statement to swallow there.

[ChumpDumper]

Zeke has someone else in mind for the MLE.

Probably another undersized PF.

I'll just say it's Reggie Evans.

[SA210]

If he comes, what kinda stats might we be looking at? guesstimate anybody?

[T Park]

8 and 8 like LJ said, Id agree, thats a good guess Poland.

This kid is a potential stud. No joke.

[timvp]

LJ didn't you suggest that?

Right on.

Yeah, but that was cheating. Spurs always do massive research before they sign someone. You can bet that Chip Engelland was a main person in the Spurs signing Elson.

50/50

Thats more than we thought at the beginning of the day.

I still can't imagine the Spurs have better than a 10% shot but hey, it's better than nothing.

[T Park]

HEY TIMVP youve watched him more than I have, my viewership of the Knicks waned near the end of the year.


How is his quickness and athleticism.

[T Park]

You can bet that Chip Engelland was a main person in the Spurs signing Elson.

Chip has good talent evaluation.


Maybe.


No trust in the Chipper?

[timvp]

HEY TIMVP youve watched him more than I have, my viewership of the Knicks waned near the end of the year.


How is his quickness and athleticism.

He's not really a great athlete but he's strong and has very good footwork. He can finish well but he's not a guy who just jumps out of the gym.

I think he'll get more athletic as his career goes on once he trims down a tad. He's barely 21 so he has a lot of room for growth.

[ChumpDumper]

It would be awsome if he could drop 10-15 pounds this season.

[T Park]

For some reason this guy has CIA written all over him, and if the Spurs can get him, it seems they could turn him into, not an all star, but a kid who will bring 15 and 10 consistently to the point where he commands serious respect.

[timvp]

The Jackie Butler saga can go either way, according to sources. The three-year, $7 million offer sheet Butler signed with the Spurs was a lot more than the Knicks were willing to pay. For the Knicks to match, it would cost $14 million, including luxury tax, for a third-string center. The Knicks have seven days to match and might take all the time.

Matching the offer would be an indictment on backup Jerome James. Matching also would give them the maximum 15 players and make it impossible to sign free-agent small forward Qyntel Woods, or another player. Thomas is considering Pete Miller, a jump-shooting big man who started yesterday, as a center option.

"We'll see what happens," Thomas said. "Next couple of days, look at our options, not in a hurry to make a decision. Jackie was a good player for us, but we have other good players here also."

Now Isiah is just playing with us. He's making it seem like he might not match.

Come next Wednesday Butler will probably be a Knick.





But there's hope.

[Quadzilla99]

With his weight issues he could end up like Keith Traylor and never reach his potential or Udonis Haslem and become a solid player.

[timvp]

With his weight issues he could end up like Keith Traylor and never reach his potential or Udonis Haslem and become a solid player.

$7M over three years. I'd be willing to take that gamble. Especially considering the Spurs have first hand knowledge of this kid from Larry Brown and Dell Demps.

[T Park]

Jackie was a good player for us, but we have other good players here also."

you you emotional toying .

[T Park]

If Larry Brown tells you a young kid is gonna be good, you take freakin notice.

Larry Brown doesn't gush about young kids often. Think about that.

[Quadzilla99]

$7M over three years. I'd be willing to take that gamble. Especially considering the Spurs have first hand knowledge of this kid from Larry Brown and Dell Demps.

I would too. He's pretty good right now even if he's not in optimal shape.

[Kori Ellis]

People keep bringing up his weight issues. He weighs 260. It's not like he got fatter recently and used to be skinny. He's just a bulky body style. I don't really think there are "issues". Unless I'm wrong and he used to be skinnier and has fattened up lately.

[Buddy Holly]

http://www.taipeitimes.com/images/20...203215949.jpeg

[Kori Ellis]

Change that picture to a link -- it's too slow to download.

Here's one over Beno.

[Quadzilla99]

C'mon you can tell just by looking at him he is probably around 20 lbs overweight. It's obvious. It's something people bring up because it's a concern. Doesn't mean the people don't like him it's just a concern. Besides 260 is his listed wight. You don't really believe Patrick Ewing was 240lbs all those years?

[Kori Ellis]

C'mon you can tell just by looking at him he is probably around 20 lbs overweight. It's obvious. It's something people bring up because it's a concern. Doesn't mean the people don't like him it's just a concern. Besides 260 is his listed wight. You don't really believe Patrick Ewing was 240lbs all those years?

I've seen him without a shirt and he's not fat. There's very rarely a fat NBA player. He's just not super skinny like most players in the NBA; he has a bulky body style. I don't know if you realize how skinny most of them are. I'd venture to bet Butler's body fat is still relatively low.

[Buddy Holly]

Yeah, the guy's a huge lardass.