Alumni Profile: Caron Butler

Looking Back: Last season was supposed to be Caron Butler’s breakout year.  He was finally healthy and had a full training camp on a team stocked with talent.  Heading into the prime of his career, all arrows were pointing up for him, but instead of an upward trajectory it leveled out.  At the end of another disappointing season for the Clippers, he was traded to the Suns before being traded again to his hometown of Milwaukee Wisconsin.

The Good: He has a variety of weapons in his offensive arsenal.  He can hit the 3-pointer, has a good first step, can attack the baseline, and isn’t afraid of contact.  With the nickname Tough Juice, his toughness was never in question and can play through pain.  He has the size and athleticism to create match-up problems.

The Bad: With all his talent, Butler hasn’t found a way to take his game to the next level.  Injuries have also been a concern for him, and the rigors of the NBA might be taking its toll on him. He doesn’t put the same intensity on the defensive side of the court as he does the offensive side.  For some reason when he is in the Playoff, he doesn’t step up.  His numbers are all down in the post-season across the board.

Looking Ahead: Caron is in a great situation.  He’s a leader on a team in his hometown, but now there is more of a burden on him to produce and he hasn’t had that type of pressure before.  It will be interesting to see if this is the motivation he needs to take that next step.  These next couple of seasons will define how Butler’s career will be looked at.