This blurb is from ESPN Insider: Caron Butler, F, UConn: Three workouts, in New York, Houston and Memphis, have left three teams stunned. Teams knew about Butler's toughness, NBA body, athleticism and his ability to play both inside and outside. But his perimeter shooting, ball handling, and basketball IQ have blown them away. The word has spread fast that Butler may be, next to Duke's Jay Williams, the player most prepared to contribute immediately to his NBA team. Of course, teams were saying the same thing about Rodney White last year. The difference is that Butler is a tenacious defender and a proven leader. If the Rockets can't swing Yao Ming, and can't come up with a trade to their liking for Williams, don't fall out of your chair if Butler is the No. 1 pick in the draft. They were that impressed.
Yeah, I saw the video at www.rockets.com of Butler working out with the Rockets. It just shows him doing an around the world from right inside the college 3 point line. I think he hit something like 16 of 20 shots. It looked like he had a really nice stroke. I was impressed.
I have always thought that Butler was the sure thing in the draft this year. I'm really happy to hear that he is performing up to his potential in workouts. If Rudy and Carol are so concerned with the 3, I think we'd be better off to try to work a 3 way with Chicago and Golden State. We could trade down to the 3rd pick if we knew that Chicago and Golden State would take Williams and Yoa. Maybe get a guy like Fortson to take care of our rebounding problem, or one of those big Chicago studs, or Crawford as trade bait for Odom as tradebait for a guy like Zo. But the point is we would be able to draft an NBA-ready Butler with the 3rd pick. Having a NBA-ready guy like that in the draft opens more possibilities.
I’m beginning to agree with the notion that we cannot pass up Caron Butler. I don’t really care who Steve and Cat want. Do I like Odom’s game? Yes. Do I think he could do a lot for this team? Possibly. But, then again, he could bring a lot of baggage. I’m tired of the Rockets taking on dead weight. Remember Rice and Mo Taylor. We have $15 million wrapped up in these guys and we got a combined 20 games from them last season. Thanks to Mo Taylor’s extra curricular activities he has also cost us 5 games next season. I’m not ready for more suspensions like that with Odom on this team. Plus, Odom is going to want to get paid. In Butler, we get athleticism, a defensive presence, a scorer, a playmaker, and a hard worker at a bargain price (without all the luggage). I say we try and trade down in the draft to get Caron. Do you think if Krause could get Ming he could pass him up? I doubt it. Throw in the Mooch and we could get Curry and Caron Butler. If we need another point back up, Frank Williams from the Illini would be there at #15 (and would be a steal). Francis/ F. Williams Mobley/ Torres/ Butler Butler/ Torres/ Eddie/ Rice/ T Mo K. Thomas/ Mo Taylor/ Eddie/ T Mo Cato/ Curry/ Willis Players on my bubble…Rice, Mo Taylor, T Mo. I think Rice is finished. He’s just an injury away from retiring. This will be an important year for Mo Taylor. In my opinion he’s got some work to do to beat out Kenny Thomas. As for T Mo, I love this guy’s heart, but his offensive skill is lacking. He fascinated at times… I mean how could someone consistently shoot that poorly and just keep throwing up the 3’s?
Damn, that was impressive. I had no idea his jumper was so good. But he looked a little small in the video. Are we sure this guy is the answer at the 3? He looked more like a 2 to me ...
I have heard it mentioned that he is not a legitimate 6'7". This will be determined/verified at the Moody Pre-draft Camp.
I was about to post this and found someone had beaten me to it. I'll go even further, as far as this goes: If Steve and Cat aren't as inseparable as we all originally believed, find a way in that 3-way deal to get Butler, who can play the 2 for us. Send Cuttino to Chicago, a team wanting experience, and a team shunned by free agents (so send'em a player already under contract). If we can come out of this with, say, Butler and Curry, why not just sign Lee Nailon with the exception? Let him play the 3. Isn't he a hometown boy? Seems like a stretch, but we can walk out of this with future draft picks, too. And I can see Nailon coming here to play. He certainly owes no loyalty to the Hornets. And he'd be cheaper than Odom or Lewis. Certainly we can't have All-Stars at every position, they'd want too much $$$
