There has been considerable Internet chatter the last two weeks that Caron Butler's days with the...

There has been considerable Internet chatter the last two weeks that Caron Butler's days with the Washington Wizards are numbered.

There have even been rumors Butler, the former Park High School star, could be headed to the Milwaukee Bucks. That would indeed be a great move for the Bucks, who desperately need a prime-time small forward. What's more, Butler has said in the past he wouldn't mind playing in Milwaukee and being closer to his family and friends.

But don't look for Butler to be dealt anytime soon. I'm hearing Butler, a two-time NBA all-star, figures prominently in the Wizards' plans and could be with the team for years to come.

Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal-Times in Wisconsin. This strikes me as posturing, but who knows. Even if Butler isn't traded this year, he does only have one more year left on his contract.

over 2 years ago Mike Prada 12 comments 0 recs |

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Ugh. I want no part of Milwaukee’s roster except someone who is definitely untouchable (Jennings) and someone probably untouchable (Bogut). I don’t see how the Wizards can improve their roster with anyone from the Bucks except those two, which ain’t gonna happen.

by Cluster on Dec 29, 2009 3:24 PM EST reply actions

Trading doesn't make sense (yet)

The Wizards have been careful to keep their core intact over the last few years, something that good teams do. And yet, they’re not a good team. The question is whether the change that they need is large or small. I don’t know how many games have they lost by 2 or fewer points this season; if you were to convert those losses into wins, what would their record look like? Would we be as upset about their performance?

As the saying goes, it’s always darkest before the dawn. Then again, sometimes it’s dark well before the dawn and it stays dark for a really long time.

by satchmore on Dec 29, 2009 3:30 PM EST reply actions

Something tells me

Bullets Forever is the source of this rumor. After all, some did suggest Milwaukee as a trade partner. I don’t put any stock at all into this.

by Unselds on Dec 29, 2009 3:37 PM EST reply actions

The bucks definitely make no sense as a trade partner

They can’t really match salary with us without including a horrible contract.

The only way a trade with them makes sense is if we could somehow and take back both Mbah a Moute and Ilyasova. Those guys make a combined $3m so I am not really clear on how they could possible match salaries with us while also not forcing us to take a horribly terrible contract (see Bell, Charlie or Gadzuric, Dan)

by Manimal Smith on Dec 29, 2009 3:47 PM EST reply actions

Kurt Thomas and Luke Ridnour have expiring deals

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Mike Prada on Dec 29, 2009 3:49 PM EST up reply actions

Ya I guess I missed Ridnour

I threw Bell in there just to be spiteful (because it was a terrible signing), but I that that Gadzuric was the only guy who made nearly enough money to make a match feasible.

So, how about this:
Butler + Deshawn + Javaris for Mbah a Moute, Ilyasova, Ridnour and Kurt Thomas
Wiz Cut Boykins

This is good for the wiz for a few reasons:
1. We get back 2 quality young SFs (1 defensive specialist, 1 offensive specialist).
2. We dump Deshawn’s contract
3. We don’t take back any long term salary

The Bucks probably don’t want to give up both Mbah a Moute and Ilyasova, but they maybe would do it to bring back an all star home town hero who has a reasonable contract and doens’t appreciably injure their long term flexibility.

I’m not sure I LOVE this deal for the wiz, but I’d probably take it if it were there.

by Manimal Smith on Dec 29, 2009 4:51 PM EST up reply actions

Done, Luke has put up decent production in limited minutes, a perfect backup. Luc and IIyasova are decent pieces as well. Do it.

by Fundefined on Dec 29, 2009 5:01 PM EST up reply actions

I don't think they'd trade both Ilyasova and Mbah a Moute

I say let them keep Ilyasova. Maybe we can get Warrick back instead.

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Mike Prada on Dec 29, 2009 6:43 PM EST up reply actions

Why?

For more expiring money? Are you really prepared to turn Butler into Mbah a Moute and dumping deshawn’s contract?

I think that is FAR too cheap a price. On the other hand, if they gave us a 1st rounder too then I’d take it.

by Manimal Smith on Dec 29, 2009 7:14 PM EST up reply actions

I'd rather have Warrick than Ilyasova personally

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Mike Prada on Dec 29, 2009 11:53 PM EST up reply actions

Well

I can see how you’d want him more from a pure basketball perspective (though in my opinion I’d take Ilyasova instead), but much of Ilyasova’s value is that he is locked up in a cheap deal for several years.

If you were the Bucks and you could choose between trading for the rest of 1 season of Haywood or 2 more years of Blatche at sub $3.5m?

I know that by trading for him we’d be securing the right to sign him even if we are over the cap, but I’d prefer to lock in good contracts in trades rather than hoping someone else doesn’t overpay in free agency.

by Manimal Smith on Dec 30, 2009 12:10 AM EST up reply actions

I like Mbah a Moute

I’m a fan of Mbah a Moute’s game, sort of like a poor man’s Shane Battier. So I wouldn’t hate a Butler for Ridnour and Mbah a Moute trade as someone suggested here a few weeks ago. Of course a 1 for 2 deal would mean we’d have to cut Boykins. Addition by subtraction, anyone?

by hotplate on Dec 29, 2009 4:15 PM EST reply actions