Bucks acquire Caron Butler

[pwaldo]

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/96...r-phoenix-suns

The Phoenix Suns have traded small forward Caron Butler to the Milwaukee Bucks for point guard Ish Smith and center Slava Kravtsov.

The move sends Butler to his hometown team. The 11-year NBA veteran is from nearby Racine, Wis.

The Suns acquired Butler and point guard Eric Bledsoe from the Clippers on July 10 in a three-team trade that sent the Suns' Jared Dudley and Milwaukee's J.J. Redick to Los Angeles. Milwaukee got two second-round draft picks in the deal.

Butler signed a three-year, $24 million contract with the Clippers in December 2011. A starter for the Clippers the past two seasons, Butler has averaged 15.5 points in stops that included Miami, the Los Angeles Lakers, Washington, Dallas and the Clippers.

"We're very excited to welcome Caron back home," Bucks general manager John Hammond said in a statement.

Hammond said Butler "gives us depth at the small forward position and will be a mentor for our younger players."

Suns general manager Ryan McDonough said the trade "gives us significant cap space as well as the flexibility to trade for another exciting player."

[johnhensonfan]

This was an ok trade for the Bucks. They are under the salary cap minimum by a bit over $6 million so under the NBA bylaws if they do not use it they still pay a penalty to the NBA equal to what they are under. So with Butler they get a veteran for the locker room and his contract is only this year so he will be off the books for a run at someone good next year.

[bdoody42]

Solid pickup that didnt hurt the bottom line really. He can come in and help the young guys. He also can play some and still contribute as a role player.