oaktownknick
Rookie
Butler info when signed: Butler, 6-10, 250-pounds, had appeared in 40 games for the Great Lakes Storm of the Continental Basketball Association and was averaging 18.1 points (10th in CBA), 10.7 rebounds (third) and 1.45 blocks (third) this season. The McComb, MS-native was an undrafted early entry candidate for the 2004 NBA Draft after a high school basketball career that ended at Coastal Christian Academy in Virginia Beach, VA.
Pre-draft Info:
NBA Comparison: Antonio Davis
Strength: A real physical specimen at the tender age of 19. Has slimed down and built muscle. His strength allows him to put himself wherever he wants in the post.. Has great hands downlow and anything that goes his way he gets ahold of. His post game is developing, if he can improve in this area, he's got a chance to be a 12 year NBA player. Very athletic and gets down the court pretty well for a big man when he wants to. Looks like a young Elton Brand the way he hits the offensive boards and finds position for rebounds. His huge wingspan (7 foot) makes him a bigger player than he is.
Weaknesses: Post game is still very raw and needs work. In high school he could use his strength to get whenever he needed to (that won't be the case in the NBA). Footwork also needs improvement.... Could have done himself some good by going to college however he should still be drafted. At times he's very inconsistent and lazy on defense, especially in transition. Needs to work harder and get into better shape.
Note: He is 19 years old, he attended a prep school for 1 year.
-Rob Salvador (Draftcamp warrior) 6/16/04
Butler is a physical monster standing 6-9, 255 pounds but he doesn’t use it to his advantage. He is extremely slow and doesn’t pick up his feet when going back in transition. He is inconsistent on defense as well. Memo to Jackie: Plant yourself on the block, hit the weights, and get some elevation. If he does that, then we will be talking about a force. To Butler’s credit, he does show flashes of brilliance. He knows he’s bigger than everyone at the high school level. But the SEC is a different story. When he attends Mississippi State, he’ll have an opportunity to play on a good team with promising players and in a conference that produces good power forwards. The future is ultimately in Butler’s hands. -Justin Young
I watched him in three summer league games and I do not think this is a random scrub. He definitely seems to be a better prospect than Sundov. Must work on defense but seems to have a nice touch and is very physical under the boards. Let him spend a year in the NBDL and we may be on to something (note his CBA numbers). Let's not forget, he's only 20. Back to my original question, is he worthy of being considered a nice prospect?
Pre-draft Info:
NBA Comparison: Antonio Davis
Strength: A real physical specimen at the tender age of 19. Has slimed down and built muscle. His strength allows him to put himself wherever he wants in the post.. Has great hands downlow and anything that goes his way he gets ahold of. His post game is developing, if he can improve in this area, he's got a chance to be a 12 year NBA player. Very athletic and gets down the court pretty well for a big man when he wants to. Looks like a young Elton Brand the way he hits the offensive boards and finds position for rebounds. His huge wingspan (7 foot) makes him a bigger player than he is.
Weaknesses: Post game is still very raw and needs work. In high school he could use his strength to get whenever he needed to (that won't be the case in the NBA). Footwork also needs improvement.... Could have done himself some good by going to college however he should still be drafted. At times he's very inconsistent and lazy on defense, especially in transition. Needs to work harder and get into better shape.
Note: He is 19 years old, he attended a prep school for 1 year.
-Rob Salvador (Draftcamp warrior) 6/16/04
Butler is a physical monster standing 6-9, 255 pounds but he doesn’t use it to his advantage. He is extremely slow and doesn’t pick up his feet when going back in transition. He is inconsistent on defense as well. Memo to Jackie: Plant yourself on the block, hit the weights, and get some elevation. If he does that, then we will be talking about a force. To Butler’s credit, he does show flashes of brilliance. He knows he’s bigger than everyone at the high school level. But the SEC is a different story. When he attends Mississippi State, he’ll have an opportunity to play on a good team with promising players and in a conference that produces good power forwards. The future is ultimately in Butler’s hands. -Justin Young
I watched him in three summer league games and I do not think this is a random scrub. He definitely seems to be a better prospect than Sundov. Must work on defense but seems to have a nice touch and is very physical under the boards. Let him spend a year in the NBDL and we may be on to something (note his CBA numbers). Let's not forget, he's only 20. Back to my original question, is he worthy of being considered a nice prospect?