Are Butler's reasons for joining Clippers reflective on the Spurs?
Once word hit the wires the San Antonio Spurs would be using their amnesty clause on small 
forward Richard Jefferson, the team began an exhaustive search for a replacement.
However, as the days passed one-by-one, available free agent small forward decided not to sign on with the 4-time NBA champs.
The Spurs looked at Vince Carter but he joined Dallas. The Spurs had eyes for Grant Hill but he resigned with Phoenix and of course Caron Butler joined the Clippers.
And as the Spurs await Josh Howard's decision after they made him an offer, Butler gave his reasons why he chose the Clippers at media day.
"The youth, the talent, and obviously Blake Griffin.... It's a no-brainer."
Butler's reasons are a no-brainer. The Clippers are a team on the rise with Eric Gordon, Eric Bledsoe, Mo Williams, Chauncey Billups and of course Griffin. But do these reasons Butler gave reflect on San Antonio?
Gone are the days Tim Duncan as a huge draw for prospective free agents. During his prime-years any player would have liked to suit up next to the NBA's greatest power forward. But that time has passed and now Griffin is the "flavor of the month." So I might give Butler that as a valid reason.
And although San Antonio as a whole is younger, the Spurs' core of Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker are up in age with Duncan and Ginobili seeing the light at the end of the tunnel on their NBA careers. Sure Kawhi Leonard, James Anderson, Tiago Splitter, Matt Bonner, T.J. Ford and the rest of the team's surrounding players are talented but in comparison to this season's Clippers, on paper the Spurs come up short.
On paper.
See Butler needs to understand that all the youth, talent, and superstar power can only do so much. Ask Miami. All that talent and yet they came up short in the finals versus Dallas.
Yes, the Clippers are an attractive team right now for any free agent and Butler does add to that draw. But it is also a no-brainer that experience, team chemistry, and a solid coaching staff make for arguably a better team.
The Clippers and Butler will win their fair share of games. Perhaps they might even beat the Spurs in the regular season but between these two teams, when it comes to the playoffs and which team would likely go deeper towards an NBA title, my money will be on the Spurs.
And that would be a no-brainer.
so the hornets now have 3 centers and no power forwards. not a single PF on the team. who would you as a spurs fan rather trade for, kaman or okafor? personally i would rather have okafor over kaman even though he isnt a tall, he is a better rebounder/defender and less injury prone. and who would you trade to get either one? looking over things in the trade machine i dont think the spurs have the pieces to make a trade without giving up all the bigs we have now not named duncan and duncan and okafor combined would be nice but damn who would back them up gary neal and danny greene? without RJ going in the trade, there is just no way and after watching how the league stole from the clippers i dont see them taking RJ.
Earl Clark is meeting the nuggets today. One of the last big men who could have been signed by the spurs. I think the spurs are not serious about signing a big man. The spurs are confident that the grizzlies defeated them by chance. Dec. 26 will they are wrong.
1 Like
@rtesoro440 we get it, you don't care for anything the spurs have or are doing. On the other hand most of us trust the management, and we (like them I'm sure) have seen that all the realistic centers are not worth signing as they are not going to be of any more help then the ones we already have. Signing nene for the MLE was a perfect move, oh wait. Or Greg "crutches" oden maybe?
Earl Clark cannot defend the interior, he'll get eaten alive by zach randolph and marc gasol and hes a jump shooting big man which makes me think that hes soft.
Butler was just practical. He chose money. The spurs has to contend with crumbs like hassell, zeller, hood, lawal and others. The market is dictated by money.Besides, why cry over howard who is injury proned? After waiving Butler, what's next? Still no big man. Ok TD is receiving so much, the spurs wants something in return. But he is not young anymore. He needs somebody to help him man the interior. Splitter will do it? Bonner? Basketball has changed. The taller you are, the better. TP was right. This team will not contend for the championship.
1 Like
If we look at facts, we may not even ask this question. Hill is loyal to the people who stuck with him. He passed up the Knicks. Butler got more money than the Spurs could offer- no brainer- means he also passed up Chicago, and Miami. No reflection on the Spurs. Howard may or may not come to SA, but his reasons may have litle to do with the Spurs. Remember, when TD was at his high point, SA sought J KIdd, J. O'Neal, etc. None were ready to come to SA for many reasons. The logic is all wrong here. It will either take money, glamour, another championship or perfect fit to get high level FA in SA,. Just as it is true for Portland, GS, Utah, Charlotte, etc. Memphis has taken some chances on guys and has been rewarded. What will it take here to get more trophies ? Smarts, luck, or a rich ownership who will lose money for a winner, my guess.
@jojo707 but it is interesting to hear those reason CB gave. I recall when TD was the draw and not anymore. How fast time has passed.
1 Like
I wonder if players have a bad taste with Peter holt after the lockout and negotiations. There where more then one player not happy with him during the lockout.
It's not holt, but the money. With all the money concentrated on TD, TP and Manu, what do you get, crumbs? Stop looking for a sf. The team has plenty of them. If you have to sign anyone, sign someone who defend the interior.
