Caron Butler signs up for the Los Angeles Clippers – NBA Update
Small forward Caron Butler has accepted a contract offer from the Los Angeles Clippers, his agent confirmed on Thursday.
The free agent played for the NBA World Championship winning Dallas Mavericks last season but financial issues at the franchise meant that they didn’t make a concerted effort to retain his services.
With the Mavericks not pulling their weight, Butler became a coveted free agent as soon as news of the lockout ending broke out. He has been actively courted by a number of NBA franchises, including the San Antonio Spurs, New Jersey
Nets and the Chicago Bulls.
He went to visit the Clippers twice this week, where executives as well as players sold him the idea of playing for the team.
"He's very excited to be with Blake," Raymond Brothers, Butler’s agent, said. "And very excited to be with a young upcoming team he believes he can help win a championship."
Caron put pen to paper on a 3 year, $24 million deal with the Clippers. He also had offers from the San Antonio Spurs worth $21 million and the New Jersey Nets worth around $30 million, but choose the Clippers because he liked
where the team was headed.
The Clippers did not make the playoffs last season but found a genuine super star in Blake Griffin. The youngster burst onto the scene in his rookie year, winning the Rookie of the Year award and the Slam Dunk contest as he forced
his way into the All-Star game.
Butler was apparently sold on the idea of playing alongside the sensational star, as well as Eric Gordon, a genuine star in his own right. It is players such as these, alongside established figures of Chris Kaman and Mo Williams,
as well as a number of talented youngsters, that had Butler put his trust in the Clippers franchise.
Los Angeles have steadily gotten better over the last few years and now believe they have enough quality to not only make the playoffs next season, but also become a genuine force in the NBA. With the addition of veteran small
forward Butler, the Clippers would be confident of becoming title contenders in a couple of years as there many young stars grow and mature.
For his part, Butler is looking for a fresh challenge and the Clippers will provide him exactly with that. The star was a key part of the Mavericks side last season before injuring struck him down at the turn of the year. The player
had to sit out the rest of the season, including the playoffs and NBA Finals against the Miami Heat.
He would have loved to stay in Dallas and continue with the group but the franchise had other plans.
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