Butler: Immediate NBA impact?

[Skatastrophy]

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4684932/nba-draft-the-safe-bets

From the Celtic's blog, saying Jimmy is a safe late-first-round pick:

"ESPN Stats and Info researchers Peter Newmann and Dean Oliver crunched the numbers and examined the prospects and came back with four suggestions for specialized players they believe are capable of making an immediate NBA impact...

* Jimmy Butler is a versatile wing player who doesn't make a lot of mistakes and can do the understated things a coach looks for - play defense, hit the opportunistic shot, and grab more rebounds than his matchup."

[tower912]

If accurate, this will be a boon down the road for recruiting.        Wes, Lazar, Jimmy......athletic wings, this could be you!

[MerrittsMustache]

If accurate, this will be a boon down the road for recruiting.        Wes, Lazar, Jimmy......athletic wings, this could be you!

It's The Wesley Matthews Effect. After watching Wes' success in the last 2 seasons, NBA execs are realizing that Buzz/Marquette produce smart, dependable players. They might not become superstars but they're the type of heady, unselfish role players that teams need. Because of Wes, scouts and GMs are paying closer attention to MU players and like Lazar last season, Butler is seeing his stock rise partly because of his association with MU. Buycks has even been getting some looks and I don't think anyone anticipated that (all due respect to Dwight).

[DomJamesToTheBasket]

It's The Wesley Matthews Effect.

Need to get it to The Marquette Effect because The Wesley Matthews Effect will be gone for the next draft.  Either Lazar or Jimmy is going to have to play worthy of their draft position.

[esotericmindguy]

Now if we could get Hayward out of MN...the t'wolves are a train wreck.

[bamamarquettefan]

While it always seemed Jimmy was more comfortable as a No. 2 option, instead scoring off teammates misses etc., my hope continues to be that this becomes an asset to his draft status.  Obviously most players are used to being the go-to guy and adjusting to producing with 15% of the possessions in 8 minutes is just too hard an adjustment.  I think that's what Oliver is getting at, and this would be great.

Hayward did pretty well in that one stretch in which there were injuries and he could get some minutes in, so I still have hope.

I would not be shocked by Dwight latching on.  He was so much stronger than other guards going to the basket and grabbing rebounds.  Certainly playing out of position all year hurt him there, but my hope with him is that all that extra time with the ball added to a guy with the athleticism and one-on-one ability to possibly be a 2 in the League - that is if Maymon doesn't leave early and knock him off the charts.

[Knight Commission]

I think this assessment is spot on. Frankly, even during the season, I didn't think Jimmy was an NBA player. However, even in his first year when he was the 6th man, it was apparent that he plays his role as well as anyone plus he seemed to have an uncanny ability to right a wrong, i.e., snagging a deflected pass, getting a key rebound, grabbing a lose ball. He was a clutch player. If an NBA team is looking for a "team" player he is the best one out there. It should be encouraging to d1 players that the NBA doesn't reward only the most skilled or athletically gifted  players.

[GGGG]

If there is one guy that I think JFB will be like it is Luc Richard Mbah a Moute.  Not sure he will ever be a great scorer, but he'll rebound, be on the floor for loose balls, and defend his ass off.  You can have a LOONNNGGG, lucrative NBA career by doing that.

[NersEllenson]

If there is one guy that I think JFB will be like it is Luc Richard Mbah a Moute.  Not sure he will ever be a great scorer, but he'll rebound, be on the floor for loose balls, and defend his ass off.  You can have a LOONNNGGG, lucrative NBA career by doing that.

Good Call/comparison.

[DomJamesToTheBasket]

If there is one guy that I think JFB will be like it is Luc Richard Mbah a Moute.  Not sure he will ever be a great scorer, but he'll rebound, be on the floor for loose balls, and defend his ass off.  You can have a LOONNNGGG, lucrative NBA career by doing that.

I agree that Jimmy will make his impact on the defensive side,  but his ability on offense doesn't get enough credit.  Jimmy is much more talented on offense than LRMAM.  Luc never even eclipsed 10 PPG at UCLA.  Jimmy's shot is superior and I think that Jimmy is going to develop a deadly outside shot in the NBA.  We saw evidence of a near perfect stroke in his time at MU.  He often passed up good looks at MU,  but he is going to have a lot of wide open looks in the NBA.  He may not consistently hit 18 out of 25 NBA 3's like he did at the combine,  but that was not a fluke!  I'll be the first to predict that he is going to be a good starter.  Great defense,  team-first attitude,  and heady play is going to get him there.  For all that he has overcome to get where he is,  I just don't see him not continuing to progress....especially with all of his upside (length, athleticism, skills, IQ, intangibles)....he has A LOT to work with!  I see his first couple years in the league similar to his first years at MU....slowly getting experience and showing noticeable improvement nearly every week in the beginning.

[jsglow]

Not that there's any local favorites but I wonder if Doc might have talked with Jimmy assuming he was in town for Fr. Wild's send-off event on Thursday? 

"Kid, if you ever let up for one second I'll run you off my team so fast you're head will spin."  "Coach, I'll do anything you say, sir."

[mviale]

J Butler will be have a nice NBA career.

[El Duderino]

"I saw him at a game versus Providence. He did everything," one NBA scout said. "He guarded Marshon Brooks. He was special. So many guys come into the NBA with role-player talent and think they're a star. I knew this kid could come in and fit, right away, on a good team. That's the appeal."

I could easily end up seeing Butler fit in on a winning team who drafts late first round as a guy who is willing to come off the bench and do exactly what the coach wants from him because Jimmy doesn't have an overinflated ego of himself.

Come off the bench for maybe 5-15 minutes a game, playing tough defense and only shooting when he has high quality scoring opportunities vs some young kids who come into the NBA thinking that the way to impress their coach is by jacking up shots and scoring.

[brewcity77]

I could easily end up seeing Butler fit in on a winning team who drafts late first round as a guy who is willing to come off the bench and do exactly what the coach wants from him because Jimmy doesn't have an overinflated ego of himself.

Maybe, but if he was drafted by a winning team like Chicago (well...specifically Chicago) I could see him starting as a rookie. If his three-point shot is as accurate as one would guess based on what he's done lately (say he's a 35% 3-shooter) and can defend tenaciously, I could easily see Thibodeau giving him the starting job quickly, if not from day one. He'd fit in great as a 2 there, though admittedly, they really could use a 2 that will score a bit more than Butler might initially.

[MU_Iceman]

Maybe, but if he was drafted by a winning team like Chicago (well...specifically Chicago) I could see him starting as a rookie. If his three-point shot is as accurate as one would guess based on what he's done lately (say he's a 35% 3-shooter) and can defend tenaciously, I could easily see Thibodeau giving him the starting job quickly, if not from day one. He'd fit in great as a 2 there, though admittedly, they really could use a 2 that will score a bit more than Butler might initially.

Look, I love Butler, but as a down-to-Earth Bulls fan, there is no way in hell Butler would start as a rookie.  Thibs has openly acknowledged that he does not trust young players (let alone rookies).  I think that Jimmy would fit the exact mold of a player that Thibs would like to have on his roster and I really hope that the Bulls use one of their picks on him...but he will not start if they do pick him, I can promise you that...he may not even play 10 mpg in his first year under coach Thibs...

[brewcity77]

Look, I love Butler, but as a down-to-Earth Bulls fan, there is no way in hell Butler would start as a rookie.  Thibs has openly acknowledged that he does not trust young players (let alone rookies).  I think that Jimmy would fit the exact mold of a player that Thibs would like to have on his roster and I really hope that the Bulls use one of their picks on him...but he will not start if they do pick him, I can promise you that...he may not even play 10 mpg in his first year under coach Thibs...

I don't think it's any more unlikely than Wes starting for Utah as a rookie. Probably less likely than that. The only reason I could see him starting is because the Bulls have such woeful options at the 2. Neither Korver nor Bogans are really what they are looking for. Butler is a nice mix of the two. He can probably score a bit more than Bogans and definitely defends better than Korver. At their pick, he's a pretty ideal player. That said, I doubt he'll be there when the Bulls pick.

[MU_Iceman]

I don't think it's any more unlikely than Wes starting for Utah as a rookie. Probably less likely than that. The only reason I could see him starting is because the Bulls have such woeful options at the 2. Neither Korver nor Bogans are really what they are looking for. Butler is a nice mix of the two. He can probably score a bit more than Bogans and definitely defends better than Korver. At their pick, he's a pretty ideal player. That said, I doubt he'll be there when the Bulls pick.

They have another guy on the roster who fits Butlers exact mold and has started in the league before, Ronnie Brewer.  IF Jimmy is picked by the Bulls I'd expect him to serve as more of a back-up to Luol Deng seeing as how the Bulls don't have a suitable back-up for Deng on their current roster...

[Hoopaloop]

When is the last time MU has had back to back 1st round NBA selections?  Anyone know?

[kmwtrucks]

Iceman the problem with Butler in chicago is he would be behind Brewer and Korver.  With Bogans and Deng starting.  they may not pick up Bogans contract but if they don't they are going to try and sign another Veteran.  he would not even be the backup.  They still might take him and put him in the D-league. 

[HouWarrior]

JBs local newspaper, the Houston Chronicle, finally recognizes him with an article-
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/7619250.html

Regretably, because he didnt choose UT, or A&M, which the Chron covers well, JBs friends and family havent read of him in the local press, until now. Thankfully, the internet has supplanted the parochialism of local newspapers as the primary news source for those under 50....and most recruits couldnt give a darn about their local press "clippings" any more.

[MU_Iceman]

Iceman the problem with Butler in chicago is he would be behind Brewer and Korver.  With Bogans and Deng starting.  they may not pick up Bogans contract but if they don't they are going to try and sign another Veteran.  he would not even be the backup.  They still might take him and put him in the D-league. 

I think you misread mine...I agree with you...I'm saying that for as much as I love Butler and think he can be a very good role player at the next level the Bulls have several 2/3 type guys already on their roster and Brewer would be ahead of him on any depth chart because he's a similar player (although he is more of a 2 and Butler is a 3, but you get my point)

[bilsu]

When is the last time MU has had back to back 1st round NBA selections?  Anyone know?

I would think Bo Ellis 1977
Butch Lee 1978
Possibly Toone 1979

[MUMac]

JBs local newspaper, the Houston Chronicle, finally recognizes him with an article-
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/7619250.html

Regretably, because he didnt choose UT, or A&M, which the Chron covers well, JBs friends and family havent read of him in the local press, until now. Thankfully, the internet has supplanted the parochialism of local newspapers as the primary news source for those under 50....and most recruits couldnt give a darn about their local press "clippings" any more.

Well, that's better than Madison, where the local rag finally had an article June 4, 2011 on Wes.  The headline was:  "Wesley Matthews is worth embracing, not jeering for going to Marquette".  If he went to UW, they would have had articles every week.  

[Hards Alumni]

Well, that's better than Madison, where the local rag finally had an article June 4, 2011 on Wes.  The headline was:  "Wesley Matthews is worth embracing, not jeering for going to Marquette".  If he went to UW, they would have had articles every week.  

Its called writing to your audience.  They'd be fools not to.

[BCHoopster]

I would think Bo Ellis 1977
Butch Lee 1978
Possibly Toone 1979

Earl Tatum was a first, not sure about Lloyd Walton but he played 5 years in the league, Toone was a late first for early second