On a team as locked and loaded as the Oklahoma City Thunder, a player like Caron Butler—effective, but well into his career twilight years—would seem to benefit only at the fringes.
But with both Thabo Sefolosha (calf) and Kendrick Perkins (groin) sidelined for at least the next four weeks, Butler has suddenly gone from luxurious bench-bound afterthought to a potentially crucial cog on a championship contender.
At 33 years old and with nearly 26,000 minutes to his tires, Butler would surely love nothing more than to ride into NBA retirement, diamond-studded ring glistening in the sunset.
Which would make for a wholly different ending than the one Butler expected last summer, when the 14-year veteran forward was traded by the Los Angeles Clippers to the Phoenix Suns.
A few months later, without having so much as suited up for a single game with the Clippers—a testament to just how dispensable the former University of Connecticut standout had become—Butler was dealt again, this time to the Milwaukee Bucks, the team that played a scant 40 miles from where Butler grew up in nearby Raci ...
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Article written by Jim Cavan
Will Caron Butler Be Bigger Piece Than Expected for OKC Thunder 2014 Title Run?
March 4th, 2014 by Jim Cavan Leave a reply »
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