After leaving the turmoil that the Washington Wizards season became, landing with the Dallas Mavericks had to feel like Nirvana for Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood. Stable organization, playoff team, fans in love with the team, what more could you want?
Butler doesn’t want to leave. Can’t say I blame him. However, as they always do, the Mavericks are considering roster shakeups this summer and with just one year left on his deal Butler is a tradable asset.
So in his Hoopshype blog, Butler made his pitch.
We’ll have an interesting summer now. I would like to continue to play for a winning franchise like the Mavericks. I have no more years to waste on rebuilding or something like that. I look forward to being in a great situation and that’s what Dallas has been to me. The fans have been awesome. They welcomed me with open arms and I had a great time out there.
All that said, I’m aware that it’s all going to depend on what Dirk Nowitzki decides. You kind of feel what he wants is to stay a Maverick for life, but you can never know for sure. You just have to wait and see what happens during free agency. If you ask me, I would like this team to stay together. We’re not that far off. We could return next season with the exact same squad and compete for the title. We have the experience, leadership and everything else in place to make it happen.
Actually, you need another piece or two to get past the Lakers -- and maybe others -- in the West. Hence the trade talk. But Butler gets that; if anybody understands this is a business it’s him. The man was once traded for Kwame Brown. Reality doesn’t slap you in the face much more than that.
Wherever he lands, Butler will be a good, professional player. That is who he is.