Jimmy Butler is playing out of his mind. And the current MIP. However a buy low on Paul George should be the way to go. Especially with how Granger recovery turn out for Pacers.
Are you saying we should go after PG, he isn't available. Butler will be available after the season it just depends if Chicago will match a Max contract or not.
At this point, I'm thinking Canaan may turn out to be a great running mate for Harden. A small SG in a point guards body that knock down shots and chase after other PG's in the league.
Going after an long term injured player with MAX contract on a bad team is way easier than going after the best player who is young and on a pretty decent team.
I beg to differ. One player is in the beginning stages of a max contract meaning we would somehow have to match salaries. The other player is "easier" to obtain since he's going to be a restricted free agent next summer. If Morey wants Butler bad enough (and I'm not saying he's even on Morey's radar) then he could work out a deal similar to what Parsons got, e.g. a contract "impossible to trade". Of course there are a lot of variables at play that will prevent Butler from leaving Chicago (they can match offers, he might want to stay there, etc.) but those are going to be easier to overcome than to try and trade for a YOUNG franchise player that had a freak injury as opposed to someone like Derrick Rose who's always injured.
I'm confused at your criticism considering: 1. Butler has and can guard the 1, 2, and 3 position. 2. Thibs has also had Butler play a smallball 4 this year as well. 3. If Butler can't guard them, there's also a guy on the team by the name of Trevor Ariza. "Moving" Harden to the point doesn't take away the fact that whoever our best defender is will always be on his man. Was it Harden or Ariza that spent most of the night on Kobe? Was it Harden or Ariza that spent most of the night chasing Monta Ellis? Bringing in a player like Butler, who is a two-way player btw, should help Harden on both ends of the court. So if you're blasting me for not being a "two-way" thinker I'd like for you think again.
3 to 5 years from now , we might be asking if we can sign: Cannan, of PB because they had fabulous stat on others teams....the trend of chasing lost treasure seems to be a trend.
Same argument on the other side who would each of these guys guard? Westbrook may be able to slow down Harden a bit, but the rest would get beat just off of size difference. I think Ariza or Butler could play any of these guys at least decently.
No way in hell does Chicago allow the Rockets to rip a player from their roster again, I would think they will match whatever no questions asked.
The last thing guys like CP3, Rose, and Westbrook want to see is a 6'7" athletic defender with long arms chasing them all over the court.
Butler will be able to hold those quick, crafty guards. He's that good of a defender. Just think about the times Lebron would have to guard Parker, Rondo and Rose. Buckets would be able to do it, but that means we would have to make Harden a point guard. Which is pretty much what he does already right now, but I dunno. Doesn't seem right.
We need an elite big 4 or we no go deep in the playoffs. We have limited resources to attract that 1 missing piece so why we so hot after that PG when we already have maybe the best ball handler in the world in Harden?
How many players did recover from a freak injury? Especially one as serious as George. Not many I believe. But then, I'm doubtful we can get any of them. So i'm not going to continue. And, putting Butler alongside Harden, reminds me of Harper joining the bulls.
Dragic is a pick and roll point guard. He needs the ball too much. He'll be pissed if we tell him to just stand around and be relegated to just a catch and shoot player like Lin. That being said, Harden played pretty well on Team USA next to Curry/Rose.
Hopefully not posted yet. Thought it would be a good addition in this thread. NBA Breakout Star Jimmy Butler Spends Offseason Without Internet And Cable http://yahoo.thepostgame.com/blog/eye-performance/201411/jimmy-butler-chicago-bulls-nba-basketball
