Now that the Lakers deal for Chris Paul has been rejected by the NBA league office, the Los Angeles Clippers very quietly signed the biggest free agent today. The Clippers by signing small forward Caron Butler have filled the biggest hole on their roster from last season.
For most of last season , the starting small forward for the Clippers was Al-Farouq Aminu. And while he looks like a decent young player with an upside, he is inexperienced and still needs some seasoning.
Caron Butler on the other hand is a tenacious defender who doesn’t back down from anyone and probably most important with this Clippers team, he can run the floor. With Gordon and Griffin and now Butler on the wing the Clippers are going to be a big threat when they get out and run.
The Clippers didn’t get much production out of the small forward position last season and this is a huge upgrade for them. Butler averages about 15 points a game and shoots about 30% from three point range but where he’ll have the biggest impact with the Clippers will be on the defensive end.
The Clippers desperately needed someone tough to pick up the intensity on the defensive end to match Blake Griffin’s intensity on the offensive end. And Caron butler can be that guy especially if the Clippers don’t demand much from him offensively. This is a big signing in my opinion. The only concern with the Caron Butler signing is his health, particularly his knees. The good news is you have a good young small forward in Aminu who could use plenty of playing time to rest Butler for, gasp, the playoffs.
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