With The 44th Pick, The PTB Select....

[ABM]

Da'Sean Butler, West Virginia?

Could it be?

Unlike everyone else on this list, Da'Sean Butler finds himself better than projected due to injury. The last time the country saw Butler he was writhing and pain as his head coach, Bob Huggins, embraced him. Prior to tearing his ACL, Butler was considered a first round talent with a very bright future. He had carried his team to the Final Foul and appeared ready to take on NBA competition. He was obviously better than a late second round pick, which is where many have him pegged today. But will he be able to bounce back and return to first round form?

Butler and his agent, Richard Katz, showed up to the Pre-Draft Camp in Chicago without an invite in hopes of encouraging teams that rehab was going well and spreading medical reports that showed his on pace progress. Butler insists that he'll be ready to go for training camp and it may be worth the investment for a team late in the second round. The Spurs, Clippers, Trail Blazers, Thunder and the Pacers have reportedly shown interest in meeting with Butler and while he'll miss Summer League and could enter the season behind the curve, his potential makes him worth the wait. Don't be surprised if Butler is drafted late, held on a roster, and then unleashed in a year or two when he's completely healthy and ready to pick up where he left off.

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=16462

 

[julius]

Yeah, what we need is another player with a knee injury.

 

[ABM]

Yeah, what we need is another player with a knee injury.

*cough*DeJuan Blair*cough*

 

[ripcity67]

Not basing this on talent since I don't know him or all the Euros that are targetted in the 2nd round, but I would rather take him then a Euro since it seems the trend right now that the Euros aren't coming here very often. If he was targetted for a 1st rounder and he is delayed 1 year due to knee injury, then it seems like he would be worth the wait. Please no more wasted picks on invisible Euros.

 

[Ed O]

Not basing this on talent since I don't know him or all the Euros that are targetted in the 2nd round, but I would rather take him then a Euro since it seems the trend right now that the Euros aren't coming here very often. If he was targetted for a 1st rounder and he is delayed 1 year due to knee injury, then it seems like he would be worth the wait. Please no more wasted picks on invisible Euros.

It's better to have an invisible guy who doesn't take up a roster spot than having a guy who's taking up a roster spot so we have to release him.

The Blazers have been in a position of needing all of its roster spots due to injuries, and carrying a guy like Butler for a whole year on the roster might not be possible.

Ed O.

 

[ripcity67]

It's better to have an invisible guy who doesn't take up a roster spot than having a guy who's taking up a roster spot so we have to release him.

The Blazers have been in a position of needing all of its roster spots due to injuries, and carrying a guy like Butler for a whole year on the roster might not be possible.

Ed O.

That was last year, this year we aren't going to miss any games with injuries, except maybe Joel. Hey I can dream. You bring up a valid point, just think that the Euro craze is just about done unless the player is good enough and wants to come over right now and play in the NBA.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Unless the team was so high on him and his longterm future that they felt like he'd be worth carrying as a deadweight player for the next year, I'd rather they actually spend their second round pick on a contributor; even if their only contribution is as a practice player. I kind of like Butler after watching him play a few times this year, but not so much that I want yet another draft pick rehabbing on Portland's tab for what, the 4th year in a row?