More training camp fodder - Rasual Butler

[60WinTim]

Unless I missed something, our current training camp fodder includes Lucas, Murray and Butler.

The PG Lucas makes sense because he has played for Thibs and could help with our guards learning curve. Plus it gives a chance to give Rubio a bit more rest.

The SG Murray was on our summer league team. Our wing depth seems thin with only Zach, Rush, Wiggins and Shabazz, although we know Thibs plans to give Dunn some SG minutes.

The SF Butler also adds some depth to our wings, plus he brings a lot of experience.

With the KG buyout looking more likely, we have an open roster spot. It sure seems like Butler has a chance to catch on to the team with that last roster spot.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Yeah, my first thought was that Butler has the best chance of being #15. One of the reasons I wanted Luol Deng so much was that I see flaws in our SF's...Wig doesn't rebound well enough and may be a better 2 at this stage of his career, and we all know Bazz's shortcomings. Our biggest roster need was at SF, and while not particularly meaningful, this will help. I actually would have preferred Prince to Butler, but perhaps that ship has already sailed.

[60WinTim]

If you look at Prince's numbers last year... Yeah, that shipped sailed!

Compare the two players per 36 numbers last year. While Butler played less minutes with San Antonio, there really is no question who was the more productive player. And we got him.

[Monster]

Butler brings the possibility of hitting 3's and Prince doesn't. That's his basic value. His blocks for basically a guy known as a shooting specialist are quite suprising.

Murry I think has a legit shot of making the roster m. Why? He looks like he may be somewhat capable of being a fill in at 3 positions PG/SG/SF. He turns 27 in a few weeks so it's not like he has massive upside or something but sometimes a guy at the end of the bench that can do a bunch of decent this ok has some value. He has to really do well though as I would say Butler has a pretty good shot of making the team if he still has something left in the tank.

If KG and Pek are not going to play at all the way things are right now that probably helps Payne's case for sticking around. Maybe they sign someone still that competes for his spot. At this point it probably makes sense to keep him around as a body in case someone gets injured and someone will at least for a few games.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

If you look at Prince's numbers last year... Yeah, that shipped sailed!

Compare the two players per 36 numbers last year. While Butler played less minutes with San Antonio, there really is no question who was the more productive player. And we got him.

I certainly agree with you offensively last year, but not on the other side of the ball. Tay was more valuable to the Wolves last year than Rasual was to the Spurs, as evidenced by their plus/minus numbers...Prince consistently ranked near the top of his team in this measure, while Butler ranked near the bottom of his team (gross +/- numbers are obviously irrelevant because of the huge performance gap in the 2 teams). Despite another terrible season for the Wolves, they quite often led the game when the starting lineup of KAT/KG/Tay/?/Rubio would hit the bench late in the 1st quarter. This club has plenty of scorers I think...I would have preferred a SF with more of an emphasis on defense.

Difficult to compare a Spurs player and a T-wolves player's stats, but they are about the same age, and over their careers Tay has been the better player by almost any measure.