The Kings promised to trade Caron Butler last season, seemingly at his request, but they never found a deal.
Now with the ability to leave Sacramento on his own volition, Butler isn’t taking it.
Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports:
Sacramento's Caron Butler has exercised his $1.5M player option for 2016-'17, league sources tell The Vertical.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 21, 2016
Maybe Butler feels better about the Kings. Maybe he sees a brighter future with Dave Joerger rather than George Karl.
But this is just as likely a financial decision. Butler will make the league minimum next year ($1,551,659), but it’s no guarantee a team would sign him if opted out. He’s 36, and his production has slipped substantially. His primary value is as a locker room leader, and that’s limited if he can’t contribute on the court.
Even if Sacramento isn’t his ideal location, all things considered, locking into an NBA salary isn’t so bad.
