Alumni Profile: Caron Butler

Looking Back: Caron had a pretty good year, moving out from a horrible situation in Washington and onto a team pushing for a championship in Dallas. While the year didn’t end the way that he wanted, he still played solid during the postseason scoring more points but he couldn’t buy a three pointer, hitting just 7 of 23. It was a tough transition and he never truly felt comfortable and it showed in some stretches.

The Good: He has a great combination of size and athleticism which can create all sorts of mismatches. While he doesn’t get the credit that he should deserve, he is entering the prime of his career and on a team that has the right pieces to make a deep run. He can post up, has range on his jumper, can play above the rim, and can create his own shot off the dribble.

The Bad: He has always struggled with turnovers and it showed up in the playoffs. He has to limit that aspect of his game. He also isn’t known for an in-your-face defense. There were rumors swirling in Washington about his ability to be a team player, but take those with a grain of salt because of the atmosphere of that locker room towards the end of the year.

Looking Ahead: His expiring contract is a bargaining tool, but if he doesn’t get traded, he is in a great situation to make a significant impact on a respectable team. With another year under his belt, he should be comfortable in the Maverick’s system and he will be more willing to make plays.