Source LA Times <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Caron Butler and Chucky Atkins, Lakers for one disjointed season before being shipped out in the Kwame Brown trade, were introduced Thursday as members of the Washington Wizards. Butler, 25, was one of the Lakers' most consistent players toward the end of last season, averaging 21.9 points over the last 15 games, but the Lakers parted with him to take a chance on Brown. Now on his third team in as many seasons, Butler said he had hoped to settle down with the Lakers after being acquired last summer in the Shaquille O'Neal trade. "I really thought that was going to happen in Los Angeles," Butler told reporters. "I enjoyed it there, but I understand that this is a business and trades happen. I am getting married this month so it is important for me to have some stability. I love D.C. I'm excited to be here." Butler is expected to start at small forward or shooting guard. Atkins, 30, averaged a career-best 13.6 points last season for the Lakers, but the return of Phil Jackson and the emphasis on the triangle offense signaled the end of 5-foot-11 guards who struggle defensively. Atkins' defense was notably poor down the stretch, and he did not endear himself to the organization by derisively referring to Kobe Bryant as the team's general manager last March. "The hardest part was the losing," Atkins said of last season. "Expectations are so high there. Last season was rough for everybody. I'm happy to be here with an up-and-coming team. You can really feel that this city wants a winner." Atkins, who started all 82 games for the Lakers, will have to fight for minutes in a backcourt that includes All-Star Gilbert Arenas and free-agent signee Antonio Daniels. </div> Source: LA Daily News <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">WASHINGTON-- The stunned look he wore a year ago after being introduced as part of the Shaquille O'Neal trade was gone Thursday afternoon, replaced by the quintessential navy suit and red tie seen up and down Pennsylvania Avenue. For the second consecutive summer, Caron Butler found himself in new surroundings to say nothing of his third team in three seasons acquired by the Washington Wizards along with Chucky Atkins in exchange for Kwame Brown and Laron Profit. Butler leaves behind the Lakers only 12 months after arriving, having played some of the best basketball of his career in the final weeks of last season. This time, Butler hopes he may have found a place to call home with the Wizards. "The best is yet to come for me," Butler said. "The best is next year. We're going to win games and get back to the playoffs and do some magnificent things." That Butler ended up in Washington might have been a bit of a surprise, coming only days after the Wizards failed to re-sign Larry Hughes. He was one of Kobe Bryant's closest friends and praised by Phil Jackson when the Lakers coach returned in June. Butler had heard his name come up in near-continuous trade talk since January. He compared how quiet too quiet things were in the halls of the Lakers' headquarters with how loud the speculation was surrounding his future in the outside world. The Lakers traded Butler for the potential they saw in Brown, the former No. 1 overall pick in 2001. What they gave up was a 25-year-old forward who averaged 21.9 points over 15 games at the end of the season with Lamar Odom out. While the Lakers won only two of those games, Butler thought he had proved himself. He was back to being the same player he was as a rookie, his name mentioned in the same breath as Yao Ming and Amare Stoudemire, before undergoing knee surgery in 2003. "I always had that in me, after I came back healthy and everything," Butler said. "Once given the opportunity, I took full advantage of it. I really wanted to show people I was more than back and I (had) learned so much more as a basketball player." With forwards Jared Jeffries and Jarvis Hayes already on the Wizards' roster, Butler will split time between small forward and shooting guard. He was one of five small forwards with the Lakers, who would have faced a tough decision about re-signing him next summer. Atkins, meanwhile, said he was most disappointed at not being able to help lead the Lakers back to the playoffs. "Any time you have as much success as the Lakers have had over the past few years, you don't want to be on a team that doesn't make the playoffs," Atkins said. Atkins also said he thought the Wizards would play a more up-tempo style better suited to his game than the triangle offense. "I figured somebody was going to get moved," Atkins said. "I didn't necessary think it was going to be me. Things like that happen. This is the NBA. The only thing you can do is take the hit and move on." Butler said he hoped to be remembered during his time with the Lakers as somebody who cared about other people. "The basketball is one thing, but Caron as a person is a whole other thing," he said. </div> -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Its nice to see that Caron is still a class act. The same goes for Chucky showing he too, has some class.
Yeah, Caron Butler is a class act, which made it tough to see him traded. Unfortunately, it's hard to find players exhibiting his character in the NBA. I'm glad Chucky Atkins did not take any cheap shots at the Lakers as well. I was expecting to read something negative when I read through his comments. He basically said he could not handle the pressure it takes to wear the Purple and Gold. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Butler said he hoped to be remembered during his time with the Lakers as somebody who cared about other people. </div> He will definitely be remembered like that in my book.
Caron is a great guy, he had a tough childhood and in the nba hes kept it proffesional. I remember when he left the Heat he still showed his love to Miami, and now hes showing love for L.A, good guy.
well, all i got to say is good luck to them both. and i hope they both have a good rest of their carriers. hey, who knows? there may be a chance that we can resign caron next off season, since he is a free agent.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">well, all i got to say is good luck to them both. and i hope they both have a good rest of their carriers. hey, who knows? there may be a chance that we can resign caron next off season, since he is a free agent.</div> I have a feeling that if he does well in Washington, he's going to be their for a very long time and will be one of them legends that stay at a club for ages that everyone loves, even if they weren't a superstar player.
THey had to trade Caron becuase he would have probably wanted a lot next summer because he will be a FA
