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

[baseline bum]

After failing to get Derek Fisher and Lamond Murray.

Don't forget having Tyrone Nesby signed and then matched by the Clippers. I was in shock when I saw Aldridge say the Spurs signed Fisher that year. Why in the would they want the guy who's only moment of the playoffs was taking a pass off the face to blow game 2 vs the Spurs? Little er showed me when he shot 75% from the 3-point line in the 2001 WCF.

[T Park]

[QUOTE]on't forget having Tyrone Nesby signed and then matched by the Clippers.

I believe a certain paranormal poster was heavily in favor of getting Tyrone Nesby.

Wasn't Fisher a RFA too?


Maybe this is the Spurs's offseason for lucky RFA non matches.



BTW, anyone else seen that about the KNicks maybe NOT matchign Butler?

THat thread got locked up cause supposedly it had been posted elsewhere.

[T Park]

Little er showed me when he shot 75% from the 3-point line in the 2001 WCF.

and in the same playoffs was huge in beating the Sixers for the ring.

[pache100]

It's so clear that even Stephen A Smith could answer that question.

Speaking of the devil...what has happened to him?

[SenorSpur]

BIG-- I get to see Knicks games, living in New York.

The guy hustles. He seems to care about the game and is one of those guys who just plays hard. In a dismal situation, far out of the playoffs, he played hard, and it seemed not just for a contract. He has soft hands, a decent touch. He's really big but moves it pretty well. He could become a nice post scorer with the right tutors and he's a good rebounder. Seems to be a decent passer. I can't say much about his defense - not much on that team. He's foul prone. Could have weight problems. We didn't see a huge amount from him yet.

His ceiling is much higher than what Nasho gave us. I don't expect a star, but a solid longtime center is possible. The potential for 15/10/1 block.

Thanks for the summation. OK, you got me. I'm convinced. I like the fact that he (Butler) is young, hungry and a developing talent. I hope the Knicks don't match.

I'm reminded back to last summer when the Mavs took a chance on a young, developing center named Desgana Diop. With the proper structure around him (diet, training, improved practice habits), he turned out OK.

That said, I'm of the opinion that the acquisition of Butler would offset whatever deficiencies Elson may bring. As replacement bigs for the Nasho tandem, they probably would complement each other well. If the Spurs can somehow come out of all this with both guys, then it will have been well worth the risk. I shudder to think what will happen if they don't get both guys or if they come out of this with only Elson (good God).

Of course if that scenario does occur, I would wonder if the Spurs would then still feel compelled to pursue that long-awaited, athletic 3-man they so desparately need (i.e Ariza or Q. Woods). I hope so.

[furry_spurry]

The Spurs need guys in the center that go hard to the hoop and are capable of catching the ball on the high/lo from Duncan.

And you think this is Elson? And his basketball IQ rivals Nazr's, so don't expect any great quick understanding of the defense, either.

[Mr. Body]

Kudos, SenorSpur, for the proper spelling of the word 'complement.'

I can't think of any reason why a team would give an offer sheet to Elson, much less one about twice what he's worth.

If we get Butler, it makes things significantly better. He'd be one of the few guys on our bench who could come in and do some terrific things for a spell, really casting a game our way with hustle and determination.

I fully expect Isiah to match.

[SenorSpur]

Kudos, SenorSpur, for the proper spelling of the word 'complement.'

I can't think of any reason why a team would give an offer sheet to Elson, much less one about twice what he's worth.

If we get Butler, it makes things significantly better. He'd be one of the few guys on our bench who could come in and do some terrific things for a spell, really casting a game our way with hustle and determination.

I fully expect Isiah to match.

By now, I'm sure you saw the piece below

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.

Reading that, I'm somewhat encouraged that perhaps Knicks owner, James Dolan, will choose not to match the offer.

Mr. Body I will defer to you since you live in the Big Apple and have a substantial amount of Knicks insight.

BTW, As a former Washington Elementary School Spelling Bee Champion, I thank you for the compliment.

[Mr. Body]

I dunno. I don't know Dolan's mind. My feeling is he'll give Isiah a lot of rope this year to either build a bridge or hang himself, so if IT wants Butler, then he'll sign Butler. I don't think Isiah's in extreme detention, like some people believe. Dolan wants him to succeed and the bar isn't that high.

I feel all Isiah has to do is show him some of the nifty, far-ranging trades he has on the boards (Francis here, Martin there, etc.), none of which needing to have any likelihood of success, and say that having Butler is a big part of them, as back up. Dolan will sign. We have to remember the crown prince and pole setter of NYC sports is Steinbrenner. I can see young Dolan emulating him.

I sure hope they don't. It's a crazy bad offseason if the Spurs don't get him.

[ChumpDumper]

I think the rope year was last year.

[Mr. Body]

I disagree. Everything bad last year was Larry Brown's fault.

[ChumpDumper]

I'm talking financially.

[Mr. Body]

well, we'll see. I just think Isiah can talk Dolan into an idea of some grand vision. Dolan- he ain't too bright. It's also not his money. It's daddy's.

[T Park]

Everything bad last year was Larry Brown's fault

puhlease....

[Mr. Body]

T Park. Reading comprehension please.

I'm not saying it was all Brown's fault; they are. He's being scapegoated.

[T Park]

You just said It was.

You didn't say "Knicks Management thinks"

But I agree, he was totally scapegoated, and the ownership is beyond stupid for trusting Thomas.

Hopefully ownership is yanking the strings on the budget for Butler

[Obstructed_View]

And you think this is Elson? And his basketball IQ rivals Nazr's, so don't expect any great quick understanding of the defense, either.

This is the Jackie Butler thread. Elson should get something Nazr never got when he was here: training camp.

[timvp]

Ime Udoka, the 15th player on the Knicks who they'd have to cut to keep Butler, led New York's summer league team in scoring today in a win over the Wizards. If they want to keep him, I don't see how they can match on Butler.

The bad thing though is that it was his first good game of summer league.

But who knows.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

you gotta be tin me

i thought for sure we'd have some news today

so i waited 9 hours for the same old crap

[Mr. Body]

There won't be any news for a week or so.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

this is so lame
So whats the point of even blogging until then?
We've been talking in circles since 12 hours after this thread's creation

[Mr. Body]

I'm driving up my post count. Don't know about anybody else.

[Russ]

Ime Udoka, the 15th player on the Knicks who they'd have to cut to keep Butler, led New York's summer league team in scoring today in a win over the Wizards. If they want to keep him, I don't see how they can match on Butler.

Udoka looks like a 30 year old G-F tweener.

Come to think of it, I hope he's not the "real" target of the Spurs' shenanigans with Butler.

[Spurologist]

The bottom line about Jackie Butler is he is probably not happy in New York. He is NY's 2nd string center at Best as long as cheeseburger is there.

I don't see how Isiah plans to include in his philosophy or debacle game plan (whatever you prefer). He already has talented big men in Lee and Fyre and uhhhh Balkman? I think if NY matches the 3 yr $7, he will be well grounded in that NY bench. It's not like Isiah will pull a Larry Brown by picking players out a hat and putting them into that starting lineup. You know what, I don't even who what he will do.

Out of all of that, I have come to the conclusion that NY WILL NOT match the offer by the spurs.

It all makes perfect sense

[Mr. Body]

Out of all of that, I have come to the conclusion that NY WILL NOT match the offer by the spurs.

It all makes perfect sense

I hope you're right.