From Marc Stein of ESPN.com:
The New Orleans Hornets, in a move to shed some payroll after the recent acquisition of Emeka Okafor, have agreed to trade swingman Rasual Butler to the Los Angeles Clippers for a future second-round pick, according to NBA front-office sources.
The trade is expected to be announced later Wednesday.
Butler is scheduled to earn $3.9 million next season. With the Clippers looking for an extra shooter and depth at both shooting guard and small forward, sources said the team was amenable to absorbing the final year of Butler’s contract, which will save New Orleans nearly $8 million when factoring in the luxury-tax implications.
Rasual (does not rhyme with “casual”) Butler gives the Clips some depth at the wing at a relatively low cost — both in dollars and in years. He hit 140 3-pointers last season at a 39% clip, and managed to raise his true shooting percentage from 46% in 2007-08, to 54.1% in 2008-09. He’s a long, rangy defender who will help the Clips mightily at the 3 against the league’s more potent perimeter scorers.
How good a defender is Butler? In 2007-08, his on-court/off-court numbers were among the best in the game at his position. Last season, they weren’t nearly so impressive. Still, by any measure, he represents an enormous upgrade over Al Thornton as a perimeter defender, something the Clippers desperately need given Eric Gordon’s size at the 2, and Blake Griffin’s inexperience at the 4.
More on Butler to come…
UPDATE: According to the Clippers’ release, the Clips gave up a conditional 2nd round pick in 2016 and also received cash in the deal from New Orleans.
20 Responses
Would it be crazy to start Rasual over Al? Reminds me of Q-Ross over Maggette except Rasual has an offensive game. He started for the Hornets last year over the injured MoPete and it seemed to work? Another shrewd move by GM MDSr.
Bye-bye, Ricky!
Posted on August 12th, 2009 at 10:44 am
Good move for the clips. Will contribute right away but won’t kill their cap space next season. This team is shaping up.
Posted on August 12th, 2009 at 10:46 am
LAst thing to do this offseason is figure out the PG ack-up situation we need to take care of it as soon as possible.
Posted on August 12th, 2009 at 10:54 am
Back up I mean. We should have a poll on who starts Thorton or Butler.
Posted on August 12th, 2009 at 11:02 am
i seriously cant believe how good this offseason has been for us…
Posted on August 12th, 2009 at 11:12 am
Long arms, can hit the 3 – a good glue guy. Throw AL on the pine have him fill it up with the 2nd unit.
Posted on August 12th, 2009 at 11:16 am
I actually think this makes the Clippers set. We have a back-up PG in Telfair. If Baron goes down Mardy Collins can also back-up as well. This move handles the back-up SG and defensive help for the SF position. Great move by Dunleavy. Leave him as GM and not as coach. Play with this team, and with Camby and other expiring contracts we can make changes when we see how this team plays together. No need to bring in anybody new. If anything, now is the time to re-sign Novak for a year and play ball.
Posted on August 12th, 2009 at 11:22 am
GOOD MOVE I SEE THE CLIPS ACTUALLY CONTENDING THIS YEAR, SOMETHING IVE BEEN DESPERATELY BEEN WAITING FOR SINCE THE 05/06 SEASON I BELIEVE!!
Posted on August 12th, 2009 at 11:52 am
Dunleavy the GM is making moves. I like this acquisition because it bulsters both the 1st and 2nd unit. When players go out and double team Blake Butler will be open hitting those corner 3′s and gives the 1st unit more of a defensive/longer range shooter than AL. AL also gives the 2nd unit a slasher, and i actually like the second unit with Bassy,R.Davis,AL,Camby,DJ. Dunleavy is finally stacking up his team together like his blazers from back in the day. I smell playoffs.
Posted on August 12th, 2009 at 11:56 am
So, does this do anything to change the Clippers’ ability to acquire Ramon Sessions? I’m assuming not.
Posted on August 12th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
Any news about Steve Novak?
Posted on August 12th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Think the second unit will be if Butler starts Telfair, R.Davis, Thorton, Smith, and Camby(some plug from DJ) too. Got to say if Butler starts we have to trade Ricky and Mardy for a quality back-up SG. But if not the team doesn’t look bad. Third unit looks like Collins, Novak, Madsen, DJ. In reality I think DJ has to play this season which means someone is the odd man out between Collins, R.Davis and Novak.
Posted on August 12th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
They better move Al to the bench, the swap would be perfect. Butler doesn’t need the ball so he fits with Baron, Gordon, Blake, and Kaman. Thornton is a better fit for a unit with Telfair, Collins, Smith, and Camby or DJ. To be honest I still don’t think we’re a playoff team, but each move puts us a little bit closer.
Posted on August 12th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
No news about Novak yet. I think he’ll end up with the Clips with or without an offer from another club.
I didn’t realize that Butler was such a good defender. Unfortunately, the conventional networks (ie. ESPN, CBS Sports, etc.) don’t talk D. They focus on points scored. I gather that Butler’s a good character guy, too. Is that true?
Also–when he’s put into a game, is he put in for his three-point shooting, D or both? Or is he just a minutes filler?
Posted on August 12th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
Doesn’t this move make Novak the odd man out? I think if Baron goes dow, and he will, we won’t make a late season playoff run with Telfair and Collins. Ain’t gonna happen. We still need Sessions.
Ian Reply:
August 12th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
exactly
Chris. Reply:
August 12th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
we don’t NEED Sessions. We have Baron, Telfair, Mardy Collins playing PG. Gordon, Butler, R. Davis playing SG. Thorton, Butler, Collins, Smith can all play at the 3. Are team is set, no need to add more money long term with Sessions. No on Sessions, sorry.
Posted on August 12th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
u guys r krazy the clippers r an obvious playoff contender with or without sessions
Posted on August 12th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Way to put a smile across my face this morning, He can hit the 3 too! I am getting excited for the season….
Posted on August 12th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
The Knicks seem to have fallen out of the race, Clippers are looking to be the front runners to aquire Sessions….
Posted on August 12th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
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