<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Washington Wizards President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has acquired guard/forward Caron Butler and guard Chucky Atkins from the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for forward Kwame Brown and guard Laron Profit. ?We are happy to acquire two talented and experienced players in this trade,? said Grunfeld. ?Caron is a versatile player who can play both the guard and forward positions for us. Over his career, Caron has been a very productive player, a physical defender and a very unselfish player. Chucky has experience as a starter in this league, and also has been a valuable contributor off the bench. He is a good three-point shooter and a tough defender.? ?I?m pleased that we?ve added two talented players to our rotation, said Wizards Head Coach Eddie Jordan. ?Caron is a proven scorer in this league, and Chucky will really stretch the defense for us. They also bring playoff experience to our roster.? The 2004-05 season marked Butler?s best season as a professional as he averaged 15.5 points and 5.8 rebounds in 77 games played for the Los Angeles Lakers. Over the final 17 games of the season, he averaged 21.1 points on 46 percent shooting from the field and 7.1 rebounds per game. He finished the season ranked 17th in the NBA in free throw percentage (.862) and 16th in the league in steals per turnover (0.88). In his three-year NBA career, Butler is averaging 13.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. Originally drafted by the Miami Heat with the 10th overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft, Butler averaged 12.3 points and 5.0 rebounds per game in 146 career games with Miami. As a rookie, he started 78 games and averaged 15.4 points and 5.1 rebounds while leading the Heat in points (1,201), steals (137), minutes played (2,858), field goals made (429), field goals attempted (1,032), free throws made (309) and free throws attempted (375). He was named NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month on four occasions that season. </div> Source
i have mixed feelings about this deal. but i would rather send someone else there instead of atkins. we could use a good backup point.
It was an evaluated risk, and I think the Lakers got Kwame at an all time low. I don't think his trade value can be much lower, and he probably will be happier in L.A. and receive more minutes.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"Chucky has experience as a starter in this league, and also has been a valuable contributor off the bench. He is a good three-point shooter and a tough defender.?</div> hmm...I wonder if Grunfeld was watching the same Chucky Atkins I was watching..
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting notMuchgame:</div><div class="quote_post">hmm...I wonder if Grunfeld was watching the same Chucky Atkins I was watching..</div> Then again NBA GMs always hype up the talent that they recieve. I remember when Houston got McGrady, they called him one of the premier defenders in the league. Go figure... I will be highly interested in seeing how Kwambe works in with Phil's system. He certainly isn't Shaq, but a player with a lot of potential, potential that our eyes haven't been graced with yet.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Hunter:</div><div class="quote_post"> Then again NBA GMs always hype up the talent that they recieve. I remember when Houston got McGrady, they called him one of the premier defenders in the league. Go figure... I will be highly interested in seeing how Kwambe works in with Phil's system. He certainly isn't Shaq, but a player with a lot of potential, potential that our eyes haven't been graced with yet.</div> Well, he may not be a premiere defender, but he played great D in the playoffs and was consistent in the regular season. Anyways, I think Kwame will average 13/8 this season and get close to a double double next season.
I have mixed feelings about this deal. Sure, it makes sense to make this trade, but Kwame hasn't proven himself. What if he turns out a bust? Caron is a true Laker and its hard to let him go. He could have turned into an All Star under Phil. Chucky is still underrated, offensively, he's a very good shooter. Thats something we need. Anyway, at first I hated this trade but I guess I won't write Kwame off yet. This is either going to be a hit or miss trade.
Im excited. Although, I feel terrible that Caron had to go. I was a huge fan of his here in LA. Im not going to write of Kwame. What I will do, it laugh in the event he becomes huge for the Lakers and everyone who doubted him hides in their shells. Kwame, prove em wrong!!!!
