Jackie Butler: Will The Knicks Match? (3-year, $7M)

[Supergirl]

Where does it say they intend to match? I think they're just outlining the pros and cons. The other article specifically said they were "unlikely to match."

It's a lot of money for a team that has 2 centers being paid a lot already. Matching would basically be admitting they ed up when they took on James and Curry's contracts. We all know they did, but will the Knicks (read: Thomas) admit it?

I don't know if this has already been posted, but here's an article from the NY Daily news on the Knicks intention to match the Butler contract

Butler is served

Knicks center gets Spurs' offer

BY FRANK ISOLA
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Jackie Butler signed a three-year, $7 million offer sheet with the San Antonio Spurs yesterday, but the Knicks, according to sources, intend to the keep the 21-year-old center.
The Knicks have seven days to match the offer or work out a sign-and-trade for Butler, a player Isiah Thomas uncovered in the CBA two years ago.

Joining the Spurs would be more beneficial to Butler because it would give him an opportunity to start alongside Tim Duncan and play with a perennial contender. The Spurs lost Nazr Mohammed to free agency and traded Rasho Nesterovic. In New York, Butler would be playing behind Eddy Curry and Jerome James.

The Knicks made a qualifying offer of $900,000 to Butler and questioned whether he could get a better deal. Thomas even predicted that negotiations with Butler would extend into September.

"My summer is much shorter," said Butler's agent, Keith Glass.

The 6-10, 265-pound Butler averaged 5.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and shot 54% from the field in 55 games with the Knicks. He is regarded as a better low-post player than James. By re-signing Butler, Thomas has the flexibility to include him in a trade if he cannot move James. Butler also provides insurance if Curry or James is injured.

Butler's increased role last season - he played more minutes than James - created some animosity between Thomas and former coach Larry Brown. Some in the front office felt that Brown favored Butler because he is represented by the son of Brown's agent, Joe Glass. The Knicks fired Brown last month and are trying to void the final four years of his contract, worth $40 million. Brown maintained that he simply felt that Butler was the better player.

"Without being coy about it, Larry is a part of my family," Keith Glass said from Las Vegas. "I clearly have thoughts and emotions and my emotions lie with them. Jackie has nothing to do with that. I've always understood that."

[furry_spurry]

Right here:

the Knicks, according to sources, intend to the keep the 21-year-old center.

[MannyIsGod]

Um, read the first paragraph again.

[picnroll]

Why didn't the Spurs put a guaranteed minutes clause in the contract or player can opt out?

[Mr. Body]

I'd bank on the Knicks keeping Butler. They have the money, will spend it, and will use him more than likely in a trade.

[Spurminator]

@ "staggering"

I'm still wondering if there was a hint of sarcasm in that line...

[timvp]

Knicks' Butler signs offer sheet with Spurs
BY GREG LOGAN
Newsday Staff Writer

July 13, 2006, 12:11 PM EDT

Third-string Knicks center Jackie Butler signed an offer sheet worth $7 million over three years with San Antonio when the NBA free-agent signing period opened on Wednesday. Butler is a restricted free agent, so, the Knicks can retain his services by matching the deal within one week.

Team president/coach Isiah Thomas, who is in Las Vegas for the Knicks' final summer league game today, said the team had made no decision yet on Butler and indicated they are likely to wait the full seven days.

The Knicks have the highest payroll in the league, but Butler's deal could well be too rich for them to match. Because they must pay the NBA's dollar-for-dollar luxury tax, the Knicks actually would have to budget $14 million over three years for a third-string center when they already have to pay Eddy Curry $48.64 million over the next five years and Jerome James $24 million over four seasons.

That seems excessive unless they are worried about whether James will report in shape. He was injured in training camp last season, spent 23 games on the inactive list with various ailments and did not play in 14 other games. Butler appeared in 55 games, averaging 5.2 points and 3.2 rebounds.

Butler is represented by agent Keith Glass, who is the son of Joe Glass, the agent for former coach Larry Brown, who was fired with $40 million remaining on his contract. Butler was considered one of Brown's pet projects, but he actually was acquired by Thomas before Brown was hired. So, a decision on Butler likely will come down to basketball and financial considerations, not politics.

Butler is a hard-working low-post scorer who needs work on defense but gives consistent effort. If the Knicks play a fast-paced style, as expected under Thomas, they might go small more often, featuring their abundance of forwards and guards, which would make Butler more expendable.

All this false hope is going to make it suck that much more when the Knicks match.

[Kori Ellis]

That seems excessive unless they are worried about whether James will report in shape. He was injured in training camp last season, spent 23 games on the inactive list with various ailments and did not play in 14 other games. Butler appeared in 55 games, averaging 5.2 points and 3.2 rebounds.

23 + 14 + 55 = 92

I guess the season seems damn long in NY.

I think the 14 should be four.

[Mr. Body]

Kori, I think he's talking about two different players.

[Kori Ellis]

Kori, I think he's talking about two different players.

Ahh, that's true.

Sorry. I read it as the whole thing about Butler.
ESPN.com says James played in 44 games. Still doesn't add up to 82, but close

[Mr. Body]

Ahh, that's true.

Sorry. I read it as the whole thing about Butler.

It's all about Butler with you, isn't it?

ISN'T IT?!

[timvp]

The initial reports all said the Knicks would match. The latest reports are saying that they might not match.

I wonder if there is any substance behind any of this or just NY media talking in circles.

[Mr. Body]

Kind of weird.

It might do well to record who said what--

I'm guessing NYT, Daily News, Newsday (L.I. paper), the Post, etc., all have different and/or overlapping sources. My guess is the Knicks org is dysfunctional enough that communication is pretty bad.

[strangeweather]

I wonder if there is any substance behind any of this or just NY media talking in circles.

When in doubt, it's always safe to bet on the NY media talking in circles.

[strangeweather]

Kind of weird.

It might do well to record who said what--

I'm guessing NYT, Daily News, Newsday (L.I. paper), the Post, etc., all have different and/or overlapping sources. My guess is the Knicks org is dysfunctional enough that communication is pretty bad.

It could be that sources close to Isiah are saying that of course they'll match and sources close to Dolan are saying that they don't need to spend the money.

I would laugh my ass off if Dolan took this as an opportunity to cut Zeke off at the knees.

[Mr. Body]

I would laugh my ass off if Dolan took this as an opportunity to cut Zeke off at the knees.

I'd laugh my butt off, too, then say a little prayer of thanks.

[picnroll]

Could be that Knicks are looking for a favorable S&T and if they can't get one they let him walk, i.e., they don't know what they'll do.

[strangeweather]

I'd laugh my butt off, too, then say a little prayer of thanks.

That too, for sure!

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

The Knicks have the highest payroll in the league, but Butler's deal could well be too rich for them to match. Because they must pay the NBA's dollar-for-dollar luxury tax, the Knicks actually would have to budget $14 million over three years for a third-string center when they already have to pay Eddy Curry $48.64 million over the next five years and Jerome James $24 million over four seasons.

Maybe the Spurs knew what they were doing after all with this offer.

[SpursChampsIII]

if the spurs feel that strongly about butler they should've just sent more of the mle his way and forgotten about fing around with san francisco elson. maybe they could've told javtokas to wait

I thought that if the Spurs really wanted Butler, they should have thrown $3M at them, and I don't think the Knicks would have matched that.

[strangeweather]

I thought that if the Spurs really wanted Butler, they should have thrown $3M at them, and I don't think the Knicks would have matched that.

If the Knicks want to keep somebody, anything we offer is going to be chump change for them. Our main hope is that they decide that they are up to their eyeballs in guys already and don't need him.

[ChumpDumper]

We all know if it's just up to Zeke they'll match -- he'll just stockpile him to trade after December. The question is whether Dolan is on the same page.

[Spurologist]

Any report on where Butler wants to play in the upcoming season?

His choice of playing with TD as a starter and being a conteder for a le or joining the debacle that is "I hope we can at least sniff the playoffs" knicks. It's so clear that even Stephen A Smith could answer that question.

Knickerbockers or Spurs?

[Mr. Body]

Butler hasn't said anything AFAIK, but is known to want to get out of New York.

[ChumpDumper]

It sure looks like there is a great opportunity for Butler here to get a ton of minutes, if not start. At the very best on a healthy Knick roster, he would be the second big man off the bench.