Thunder Add Butler to Shore Up Frontcourt
The Oklahoma City Thunder has added experience to their roster as they gear up for the last quarter of the NBA regular season and playoffs.
On Saturday, the Thunder announced they had signed Caron Butler who earlier in the week had been bought out by the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Thunder’s General Manager Sam Presti described Butler as tough, hardnosed, resilient and professional. The Miami Heat had also expressed its interest in Butler.
This is the fourth team Butler has played for in the past year. After spending two seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers, Butler was traded to Phoenix, but he was moved by the Suns to the Buck shortly thereafter due to salary issues. Butler never played for the Suns, before being sent to Milwaukee.
Butler returned home with Milwaukee, as he is a native of Wisconsin. The Bucks hoped the 33-year old Butler would help give stability to a young team, but he averaged just 11 points and 4 rebounds in 24 minutes per game while in Milwaukee. In his defense, Butler did miss playing time due to ankle and knee injuries.
With Milwaukee having not hope this season, Larry Drew, the team’s head coach opted to play for the future and use Giannis Antetokounmpo a 19-year old and Khris Middelton a 22-year old more often than Butler.
Butler told management he wanted to continue playing and that meant he would be abruptly ending his return home. Butler released a personal statement saying how proud he was to wear a Bucks uniform.
For Oklahoma City, the veteran Butler will hold a minor role behind Kevin Durant the team’s high scorer and candidate for the MVP award.
The forward, who is 6-foot-7, is considered tough underneath and for his physical, non-nonsense approach. His presence will complement an already strong wing corps of Jeremy Lamb, Derek Fisher and Thabo Sefolosha.
Butler will give Scott Brooks, the Thunder’s head coach another option to Fisher when a longer and bigger player is needed.
Durant said he liked Butler’s game and thinks he can add a lot to the current team by shooting from beyond the arc, or down low amongst the big men.
The Thunder believed they had to add to their roster as other Western Conference rivals have already added players. The Los Angeles Clippers have signed Danny Granger and Glen Davis. The Golden State Warriors signed Steve Blake, the San Antonio Spurs signed Austin Daye and the Houston Rockets signed Jordan Hamilton.
This roster change will become very big once the postseason begins as games are tougher and more defensive-minded.
The Thunder is currently in first place in the Western Conference and has the third best record overall behind just the Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat.
The Thunder had lost three straight before getting back to their winning ways against Memphis on Saturday. The Caron Butler era with Oklahoma City starts now and could be the missing cog the Thunder was looking for in their quest for an NBA Title.
