Why are so many people keen to see Jackie go???

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Why would anyone expect Butler to get any time that he didn't get last year if everyone is average health-wise?

The team just re-committed themselves to Oberto and Bonner for at least 3 more years. Butler's not jumping them in the rotation. Horry will still get his minutes out of the respect Pop pays him. Elson is solidly ahead of him in the rotation and can't get any worse than he was last year, , he might even get better in the system though I doubt it.

Where is Butler supposed to get minutes from?

And if you're thinking he can sit a year and then step in for the 09 season after Horry and Elson are gone, he's going to be so clearly better than Splitter or Mahinmi? Maybe then he could get 10 minutes a game.

And re: the Stephen Jackson Plan, that is more myth than anything.

Stephen Jackson only got a chance to play when both Steve Smith and Manu were hurt. If those two things didn't happen, he never would have played.

So if somehow Oberto and Elson/Horry/Bonner go down for a stretch, maybe then Butler will get a chance.

Because Pop loves to bench players new to the system until they get a clue.

I can see him getting some of Elson's minutes. Elson should only be used when matchups are right.

I'd say give him 15 backup minutes a game in Nov-Dec and see what he has to offer.

[ploto]

Because the Spurs have been shopping him...

[T Park]

link?

[Dalamar_the_Dark]

I cant remember Spurs actively shopping him. All this talk about him being shopped is bull imho. I think he could start getting some consistent minutes next season. If he plays well, he will start getting some serious playing time especially to spell Duncan. I think he will be the lost post presence when Duncan sits if the Spurs need some scoring down low cause Oberto and Elson are put back guys.

If he screws up his chances then hes going to be Beno no. 2

[Spurs Brazil]

I want Butler to stay and play more than Elson

[Vito Corleone]

Jackie's opportunity to prove he deserves to be on this team will come during the summer league. That is where he must prove he deserves it. If he put up good numbers or atlease looks like an NBA player then we keep him but if he is still fat and clueless then we drop his ass and look for the next project. Darko, maybe.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Well, he's not fat if you've been watching the playoffs.

And as for Darko, no chance. Someone will pay him 6-10mil over 5 years.

[timvp]

I will withhold my final judgment until after summer leagues. The drafting of Tiago Splitter changes things, but I'll see how Butler does in his first game action in a while before I decide whether or not I believe he'll be in the long term plans.

[lotr1trekkie]

Me thinks that the Spurs will be showcasing him during the summer league to boost his value. He will be glued to the bench next year also as Elson/Fab share the minutes at center. Pop will be bringing Bonner along to eventually replace Horry. Bonner is about Butler's height, more mobile, a better rebounder and can shoot the 3's. Finally, he attended Virginia Christian Academy a notorious basketball laundering prep academy run by Cornerstone's AD Walter Webb. College was never an option. In today's NCAA that means your not even a caveman. I figure he's gone unless he lights up the summer league with double doubles.

[Southwest Texas Fan]

I will withhold my final judgment until after summer leagues. The drafting of Tiago Splitter changes things, but I'll see how Butler does in his first game action in a while before I decide whether or not I believe he'll be in the long term plans.

Timvp how’s Splitters defense and could he be a dirk/melo/lebron stopper?

[yavozerb]

Good call, however I think many of the posters who see him as expendable see him only as a name on a roster sheet and have no idea about his game.

It would be a pity to lose him, but I guess if it took him to get Nocioni I'd have to agree with that.

I'm just hoping against hope that Scola's rights would do it, but from all the info coming out that is not the case.

Do you really expect to see big munites from him this year? You mention his game, you mean the 20-30 minutes total he played this last season..The guy has skills and possible upside, but people have saying this about him since hight school and are still waiting!!If it takes him being included to finish off a trade so be it to bring in someone who can fill the rotation!

[Marcus Bryant]

Rare is the BIG 5 in today's NBA. Shaq, BWallace, Ilgauskas, and....? Even more rare is the 22 year old.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Do you really expect to see big munites from him this year? You mention his game, you mean the 20-30 minutes total he played this last season..The guy has skills and possible upside, but people have saying this about him since hight school and are still waiting!!If it takes him being included to finish off a trade so be it to bring in someone who can fill the rotation!

No, actually I liked what I saw when he got on the court with the Knicks back in 2005-06.

As I said, give him 15 minutes as a backup early in the season - he can't really do any harm in November - and we'll get to see whether he can play in the Spurs' system.

[smrattler]

I recall we had Bonner hurt and I think maybe Elson too at the same time. Basically, we were desperate in the middle of the season to get things turned around and desperate for a center and PF. What did we get? Horry playing full time for a few games and playing smaller. This is months into the season and Pop didn't even think he was good enough to throw out there in desperate cir stances.

Even White got on the floor more for a few valuable mins this year!

With what little I've seen of him, I am not impressed in the least. He's short for a center and can't jump higher than TD, not a defensive presence, and deosn't move ver fluidly, fast or quick.

[BigBeezie]

I want to see the guy play. I mean, he didn't even get a chance last year...and according to other players, he has worked hard.