Mikkeman wrote:CoolBreeze44 wrote:That is fascinating. I guess there should no longer be any doubt about this organizations willingness to move Rubio.
I actually love that lineup. Either Butler or Zach could bring the ball up court. It would give us great athleticism and versatility. The more I think about it, the more I like it.
I would have liked that lineup too. Even tough it wouldn't have traditional point, I think that lineup would have still been OK even against full court defense because both Zach and Butler can bring the ball up court. I think Butler would have been good enough for running half court offense. Second half last season when he was playing more like point for Bulls, he had better than 3 assists/TO ratio that would be fine even for point guards and is better than what LeBron for example has ever had.
Defensively they could have matched nicely against any team. Lavine would have taken the worst offensive player among opponent guards and small forward unless they have really big SF.
Yeah, it's an intriguing lineup. It would be a potentially brilliant play by Thibs because it addresses some of the concerns previously expressed about Butler:
1. The "lead dog" issue - As full-time PG, getting others involved is in the job description. He'd be able to still be a lead dog in the sense he would quarterback the offense, but getting KAT, Wiggins, and LaVine shots would be a mandate from the coach. He'd need to embrace this role and only play hero ball when the right match-up presents itself and the offense stagnates. PPG would go down, but APG would go up.
2. The lack of wing 3-point shooting issue - This lineup keeps LaVine as the starting SG and he is the high-volume 3-point shooter and floor spacer. Meanwhile, even though he isn't a dead eye shooter, Butler is still an upgrade over Rubio in this department
3. Defensive versatility and offensive mismatches - Rubio is a great defensive PG, but Butler is more versatile because he can guard all three perimeter positions. He can also better take advantage of mis-matches when a little guard or big man is switched onto him.
I think the biggest concern for me is whether he truly can run an offense. He certainly doesn't have the advanced pick and roll skills or open court floor vision of Rubio, or most other PGs for that matter. I even think there are a few other SGs with better floor vision and passing skills: Manu, Harden, and Wade for example.
But still....a Butler-LaVine-Wiggins starting perimeter trio has a lot to offer while also mitigating some of the earlier concerns voiced about a potential Butler trade.
