Spurs reportedly interested in Caron Butler

[MaNu4Tres]

Via J-Mac from Express News...


Not long before word of Jefferson’s impending release broke, free agent Caron Butler wrapped up a visit in San Antonio his agent, Raymond Brothers, said “went flawlessly.”

“He felt comfortable here,” Brothers said. “I’m waiting for (the Spurs) to call and discuss it. All I can tell you is, he really liked it.”

Though Butler has already visited the Los Angeles Clippers and still plans to visit the New Jersey Nets — two teams that can offer more than the $5 million mid-level exception that will be available to the Spurs after Jefferson is waived — one league source said the Spurs are now considered the front-runner to land him.

Butler has also met with representatives from Chicago, which can also offer only the $5 million mid-level exception.

The Spurs are also considering Washington small forward Josh Howard, who visited Tuesday, among other candidates to fill their small-forward void.

One factor that might entice Butler to San Antonio, his agent said, was the chance to play for coach Gregg Popovich. Asked if he believed the Spurs had a strong chance of signing Butler, Brothers said, “Absolutely.”

“He’s not wasting his time,” Brothers said “He’s wasn’t in San Antonio today to be nice.”

[DesignatedT]

Would love to see the way Pop acts behind the scenes to make all these players love him. You just don't see it with the media.

[crc21209]

Via J-Mac from Express News...


Not long before word of Jefferson’s impending release broke, free agent Caron Butler wrapped up a visit in San Antonio his agent, Raymond Brothers, said “went flawlessly.”

“He felt comfortable here,” Brothers said. “I’m waiting for (the Spurs) to call and discuss it. All I can tell you is, he really liked it.”

Though Butler has already visited the Los Angeles Clippers and still plans to visit the New Jersey Nets — two teams that can offer more than the $5 million mid-level exception that will be available to the Spurs after Jefferson is waived — one league source said the Spurs are now considered the front-runner to land him.

Butler has also met with representatives from Chicago, which can also offer only the $5 million mid-level exception.

The Spurs are also considering Washington small forward Josh Howard, who visited Tuesday, among other candidates to fill their small-forward void.

One factor that might entice Butler to San Antonio, his agent said, was the chance to play for coach Gregg Popovich. Asked if he believed the Spurs had a strong chance of signing Butler, Brothers said, “Absolutely.”

“He’s not wasting his time,” Brothers said “He’s wasn’t in San Antonio today to be nice.”

Sounds good....

[SenorSpur]

Via J-Mac from Express News...


Not long before word of Jefferson’s impending release broke, free agent Caron Butler wrapped up a visit in San Antonio his agent, Raymond Brothers, said “went flawlessly.”

“He felt comfortable here,” Brothers said. “I’m waiting for (the Spurs) to call and discuss it. All I can tell you is, he really liked it.”

Though Butler has already visited the Los Angeles Clippers and still plans to visit the New Jersey Nets — two teams that can offer more than the $5 million mid-level exception that will be available to the Spurs after Jefferson is waived — one league source said the Spurs are now considered the front-runner to land him.

Butler has also met with representatives from Chicago, which can also offer only the $5 million mid-level exception.

The Spurs are also considering Washington small forward Josh Howard, who visited Tuesday, among other candidates to fill their small-forward void.

One factor that might entice Butler to San Antonio, his agent said, was the chance to play for coach Gregg Popovich. Asked if he believed the Spurs had a strong chance of signing Butler, Brothers said, “Absolutely.”

“He’s not wasting his time,” Brothers said “He’s wasn’t in San Antonio today to be nice.”

Wow! I thought the Clips would've been considered the frontrunners. I know Caron wants to win, but in all likelihood, this will his first and last chance at a big money contract. I expect him to got to the highest bidder, with a team that can be compe ive.

[TimmehC]

Woj says the Bulls wouldn't commit the full MLE to Butler. So, if the Spurs can offer it, sounds like they have a good chance to land him.

[tdunk21]

@JMcDonald_SAEN
Jeff McDonald
Double breaking: Richard Jefferson to be amnestied, Spurs emerge as strong contender to land free agent Caron Butler. bit.ly/sC4ZIk

[silverblk mystix]

Caron Butler?

GTFO with this garbage...

[Lukor]

No offense Spursfans,but i wouldnt offer a 4 year contract to Butler after his knee basically exploded last season. For all we know he might be done soon.

[crc21209]

If the Spurs are taking a step forward to being a mentally tougher team, then I like it. Butler and Leonard at small-forward? Awesome. Not let's get a big man....

[silverblk mystix]

I'm not pleased with the clear implications that the Spurs are looking at these injured over-30 vets at SF.

Not because it seems to signal the end of RJ. , I love that. The end of RJ in a Spurs uniform would be a day of celebration. RJ is part of the 'Axis of Guaranteed Playoff Failure' along with Matt Bonner and the refusal to put the best players on the court.

But that's not my issue.

I wrote this back in May. And even though it named Battier, it applies even more to Butler and Josh Howard. (Battier is supposed to be a lock for Miami, or at least the media hasn't reported him visiting with San Antonio).



The Spurs should have on their roster this year their answers to the SF problem: Leonard and James Anderson, with Ginobili filling in when they go small with Parker-Neal-Manu, and the other scrubs like D. Butler or Danny Green to play in case of injury.

They are who the Spurs should play. I want the hunger of youth, the athleticism of youth, , the defense of youth compared to Caron and Howard. Leonard's rep is legit, and James Anderson showed in his brief time that he had the tools to be a very capable on ball defender for his position.

All Caron or Howard would be is the opposite of what the Spurs have needed to do for years now. The Spurs need to gamble on youth. Remember when they did that in 03? And Pop early in the year looking exasperated as they made mistakes, and commented to the media about them making 'young type mistakes'? It was worth it. Going young then was light years better than sticking with the likes of Steve Smith or Terry Porter or bringing in any other broken player of that era. Those were the days when Pop still took chances, and wasn't afraid of not "being fair to the team" or how the playoffs "weren't for (young player who showed up when the series was all but over)."

Caron and Howard now . . . would just soak up minutes, struggle with being ineffective at their new offensive roles, and due to their serious injuries, not be able to defend. They will both be 32 by the playoffs next year. Caron blew his patellar tendon. Howard has been even worse, missing 60% of the last two years after his ACL explosion. Think these old guys with bum knees will be the Centerpiece on defense?

At least with Caron, I can understand it a little. He was scoring for the Mavs last year. But . . . the Spurs problem hasn't been scoring. It's been their awful defense. Sure, the loss of George Hill might hurt the scoring, but giving Caron post-ups time and again isn't what will help the Spurs, and that's if he's the same after his kneecap did the Dougie. But Howard has performed at sub-Jeffersonian levels in Washington. What could he have to offer? If it's what he offered last year, no thanks on any level, especially not with the options the Spurs have already on the roster.

Back to Battier. He doesn't have these kinds of injury concerns and is used to being a role player and defender. Great. But he's headed the wrong way. He's not the great role player he used to be, he's a declining roleplayer. People will be fooled if he goes to Miami and they win the le and point their fingers, yelling "See! Battier was the difference!" But that team made it to the finals with busted role players like Miller and Haslem and still went 6 games despite massive choking. Battier can be a declining player on that team and help because they don't need him to be anything beyond a declining smart roleplayer. The Spurs are much farther away from a le and need a lot more.

This.

If only Pop could wake up and see this.

[Obstructed_View]

Butler spent two days in LA and eight minutes in SA. Don't really think there's much chance of this, guys.

[MaNu4Tres]

Butler spent two days in LA and eight minutes in SA. Don't really think there's much chance of this, guys.

Via J-Mac from Express News...


Not long before word of Jefferson’s impending release broke, free agent Caron Butler wrapped up a visit in San Antonio his agent, Raymond Brothers, said “went flawlessly.”

“He felt comfortable here,” Brothers said. “I’m waiting for (the Spurs) to call and discuss it. All I can tell you is, he really liked it.”

Though Butler has already visited the Los Angeles Clippers and still plans to visit the New Jersey Nets — two teams that can offer more than the $5 million mid-level exception that will be available to the Spurs after Jefferson is waived — one league source said the Spurs are now considered the front-runner to land him.

Butler has also met with representatives from Chicago, which can also offer only the $5 million mid-level exception.

The Spurs are also considering Washington small forward Josh Howard, who visited Tuesday, among other candidates to fill their small-forward void.

One factor that might entice Butler to San Antonio, his agent said, was the chance to play for coach Gregg Popovich. Asked if he believed the Spurs had a strong chance of signing Butler, Brothers said, “Absolutely.”

“He’s not wasting his time,” Brothers said “He’s wasn’t in San Antonio today to be nice.”

[Obstructed_View]

Good find. Thank you. That'll teach me to be such a pessimist.

[mexicanjunior]

Wow...would be great to replace Jefferson with Butler...

[Mugen]

Caron would be a great replacement but i still see him going to the Clippers. He must really love Pop to choose the Spurs over more money/bigger market/greater chance to contend going into the future. He must have not met Donald Sterling during his visit.

It's great to get rid of RJ but theres still a ginger problem that needs to be addressed before i'm doing cartwheels for this team again.

[tdunk21]

Caron would be a great replacement but i still see him going to the Clippers. He must really love Pop to choose the Spurs over more money/bigger market/greater chance to contend going into the future. He must have not met Donald Sterling during his visit.

It's great to get rid of RJ but theres still a ginger problem that needs to be addressed before i'm doing cartwheels for this team again.

and a legit big

[Buddy Holly]

Caron would be a great replacement but i still see him going to the Clippers. He must really love Pop to choose the Spurs over more money/bigger market/greater chance to contend going into the future. He must have not met Donald Sterling during his visit.

It's great to get rid of RJ but theres still a ginger problem that needs to be addressed before i'm doing cartwheels for this team again.

LOL, the Clippers are never contending. Sorry.

[lefty]

Butler will be an upgrade over RJ, but we still need a big

[Mugen]

LOL, the Clippers are never contending. Sorry.

they're gonna have a better chance than the spurs in a year or two, just sayin.....

Sterling could die of a heart attack tomorrow and they'd be in real good shape.

[DejuanorwhatDude]

UPDATE: According to David Aldridge of NBA.com via a source, Butler has decided to play for the Clippers to the tune of three years and $24 million.
As of now, you can pencil in Butler to be the team's starting small forward.

[DejuanorwhatDude]

Ouch.

[xtremesteven33]

He got his ring now he wants to get paid obviously.

[elemento]

It's all about the money in the end

Grant Hill will sign with us just because we're going to give him an extra year in his new contract.

[Russo21]

Yep we've missed out on Butler and Prince has decided to resign with Detroit for some unexplained reason. Battier signing with the freakin Heat.

We've missed out on 3 Small Forwards we would have liked already.

[Death In June]

Eh, who can honestly say they didn't see this coming. The Spurs FO have notoriously been used as leverage in FA. I don't expect them to get anyone above TJ Ford quality anyway.