Knicks decline to match Spurs' offer to Butler

[DFW Spurs]

I call it. This is blasphemous but Butler will be the next "Malik Rose" and that’s not a bad thing. Just wait and see everyone..

[tlongII]

Butler is too small to play the 5. However, with Duncan he should be fine.

[Kori Ellis]

WOAI should be having some quotes from Butler soon.

[Kori Ellis]

Butler is too small to play the 5. However, with Duncan he should be fine.

That's all he plays .. the 5.

[Mr. Body]

Are we allowed to even mention video somewhere else?

There's another play on there involving a Nate Robinson-to-Butler-to-David Lee pass that's on there.

[Kori Ellis]

Everyone knows where to find video if they want it. There's no reason to always talk about it.

[weebo]

I wouldn't get my hopes up to high with this one. Butler is still an unknown. Some of you were at one point touting Rasho claiming how he would flourish playing alongside Duncan in a Spurs full proof system. Well, where's the stiff now? Same with Nazr. FAct is the Spurs FO dropped the ball on this one and had nowhere else to turn so they signed this stiff. Welcome aboard JButler sorry you had to come here.

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

The summer is saved!!!

It's certainly a step in the right direction, but I hope the FO is far from done.

[phxspurfan]

jarred jeffries

[Kori Ellis]

What was butler drafted?

I'm not sure what number, but it was in the 2005 AAPBL Draft

[JUUOT]

Butler won't start to begin the year. Pop will put Elson (or some other veteran stiff if Elson is matched) in the starting lineup to begin the year. If Butler proves himself in training camp and in his backup minutes, he could earn the starting spot by the All-Star break.

Butler is at the age that he should be going into his junior year of college. No way Pop lets him start right off the bat.

tony parker anyone?

[Mr. Body]

I can only hope the Spurs run some plays on the block for this guy. His offensive game is too good to leave undeveloped only getting dump-off passes.

[T Park]

FAct is the Spurs FO dropped the ball on this one and had nowhere else to turn so they signed this stiff

Who should they have gotten?

[strangeweather]

I'm relieved, but we could still use a starter -- temporary (Elson) or permanent (insert fantasy trade here).

Agreed. As basically unimpressive as Elson is, I'm still hoping we get him just so we have that spot filled. $3M a year isn't that expensive, and 2 years is nothing.

But more importantly, did I mention

[tlongII]

That's all he plays .. the 5.

Understood. He's still too small though. He can get away with it in San Antonio since Duncan will guard the bigger centers.

[SenorSpur]

So everyone is cool with Butler as a starter? Or just relieved to have anyone sign with the Spurs at this point?

A lil' bit of both. I'm relieved to finally see someone, not named Jacque Vaughn, finally want to come here. It's good to have Butler in the fold. I also like the fact that he is a young, developing, relatively inexpensive, frontline presence.

Though I doubt that he would or should start, he was obviously the better choice of the two FAs targeted. We'll now see what happens with Elson. If the Nuggets match, the Spurs need to target another prospective starter at the 5 spot.

I still hope the Spurs focus their attention toward acquiiring that much-needed, athleticially-gifted 3-man (Ariza or Woods). Another trip to the pool of NY Knicks FAs would be in order.

[Kori Ellis]

parker must have done something right.

No way horry starts, no way duncan moves over, no way other center is available (as of now) bulter's chances of starting are pretty big.

hopefully he can play a few games in the summer league.

Summer league ends Friday and I don't think his deal will go through until tomorrow. So I doubt it.

[degenerate_gambler]

Nice.

A young guy with skills learning from the master of footwork and fundamentals everyday in practice.

[infinite styles]

I wouldn't get my hopes up to high with this one. Butler is still an unknown. Some of you were at one point touting Rasho claiming how he would flourish playing alongside Duncan in a Spurs full proof system. Well, where's the stiff now? Same with Nazr. FAct is the Spurs FO dropped the ball on this one and had nowhere else to turn so they signed this stiff. Welcome aboard JButler sorry you had to come here.

Now aren't you just a bundle of joy.

[tlongII]

I'm not sure what number, but it was in the 2005 AAPBL Draft

He was undrafted, but signed by the Knicks as a free agent from the CBA.

[spur219]

Well we will see what happens. Butler is young and has a good upside. As of now he is not a starting caliber center and is still very raw offensively and is usually a step slow on defense. As potenital I like Butler but as of skills now he will not be consistent. He will have a couple of good games and have streaks where is a no show. Hopefully Pop will mold him to a good consistent contributing center. Now I just hope the Nuggets do match Elson's sheet. Cuz him as a Spurs will be a waste of a roster spot.

[Kori Ellis]

He was undrafted, but signed by the Knicks as a free agent from the CBA.

I know he was undrafted in the NBA and played in the CBA. He was drafted in the 2005 AAPBL Draft but then the league went bankrupt.

[cheguevara]

jarred jeffries

what? get him? I'm down for that

[sa_butta]

He was undrafted, but signed by the Knicks as a free agent from the CBA.

NEW YORK -- Jackie Butler, a 19-year-old center from the CBA, signed with the New York Knicks on Sunday to fill their active roster.

Butler, 6-foot-10 and 250 pounds, signed as a free agent for the rest of the season. He was averaging 18.1 points, 10.7 rebounds and 1.45 blocks this season for the Great Lakes Storm. Butler finished high school in Virginia Beach, Va., and was not selected as an early entry candidate in the 2004 draft.

His addition is another move for a Knicks team that is 23-33 and last in the Atlantic Division. New York beat Indiana on Saturday night to win consecutive games for the first time since late December.

Before the trade deadline, New York acquired two first-round draft picks and forward Malik Rose from San Antonio and forward Maurice Taylor from Houston. The Knicks sent Nazr Mohammed and Jamison Brewer to San Antonio and Vin Baker, Moochie Norris and a No. 2 pick to the Rockets.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?...nba&id=2001376

[timvp]

Spurs fans holding out for a better big will be disappointed. The Spurs don't have the players to go out and get a big. We can pretend that Barry or Eric Williams will be enough, but the truth is the Spurs would have to be willing to take back a bad contract to get a decent big. And we all know they won't do that.

Elson (or Wright/Pollard/Voskuhl/Stiff) and Butler are going to have to be good enough and give the Spurs at least what Rasho and Nazr did.

Now the question is whether the Spurs can go out and find a Derrick McKey type player to help against the quicker teams in the league.