This guy appears to be on the SL team

[HawkNJersey]

Insidehoops....

Two NBA teams will take a closer look at Brian Butch in the next few weeks. The former Wisconsin forward will be in Boston next week to participate in the Celtics minicamp. Next month, he'll be at Atlanta's minicamp and then play with the Hawks in the Utah summer league. "He's in a good spot," agent Scott Alexander said. The two offers are attractive to Butch for different reasons. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Not an great prospect, poor finisher.... but does have size(6'11) and range

A sentence from the Draft Express scouting report:

Where Butch does look most promising, however, is from the perimeter. He is a prolific shooter and shot a respectable 47.5 % from the field and 34.0% from beyond the arc.

He reminds me of Jason Collier.....

[Guest]

He is but with better range.

[NJHAWK]

Well if he makes the team ZaZA wont be the only white guy. LOL He had a real bad injury to his arm a few years back cause I remember seeing it on highlights. It was nasty. He played last year though so I guess he is ok.

[DrReality]

Before you get excited . . . . . read on. I think this is the worst write up I've ever read. Funny but sad.

Can't block out, can't pass, limited athletically . . . . sounds like BKs kind of guy.

Looking at his size, a legitimate 6’11” and 240 pounds, he seems to have the physical tools necessary to dominate the Big 10’s undersized big men. He is not very athletic at all, but is mobile enough and seems to have a decent understanding of his own physical limitations to not limit his effectiveness. However, for a guy who has such great size for a college post-player, he really does not spend much time in the post. When he does, he looks extremely awkward, possessing neither good footwork nor good hands. It is almost as if he is surprised when he actually gets the ball in the post. He does not have an advanced set of post moves and when he actually gets the ball, he often brings it straight up to the basket. He doesn’t look to pass, hesitate, or even pump fake his way out of traffic; he merely goes up.

Sometimes he can finesse the ball into the basket or obviously attempt to draw a foul, but oftentimes, he is blocked or stripped before he even gets the ball above his head. Even if he gets the ball to the basket, he does not have the greatest touch around the basket either: a surprise for a guy who is such a prolific jump shooter. The only time that he really scores in the paint is off the pick and roll or in transition, both when he can utilize his length and mobility to his advantage. The problem, as visible in game film, is that he just lacks the understanding of an offensive game when he’s in the post. For him to even think about having a shot at the next level, he is going to have to look a little more comfortable on the blocks. The fact that he works and plays hard will pay dividends for him down the road, though, as it usually takes big men longer to develop.

Butch does not box out incredibly well and lacks some of the instincts and athleticism to rebound the ball at the next level. However, even without fundamentals, he seems to get the job done. Averaging 5.9 rebounds/19.5 minutes and 12.2 rebounds/40 minutes is impressive for any prospect. He lacks certain fundamentals, but he puts forth the effort that suggests better fundamentals is all that is necessary to put him in the forefront of NCAA rebounders this year.

Where Butch does look most promising, however, is from the perimeter. He is a prolific shooter and shot a respectable 47.5 % from the field and 34.0% from beyond the arc. From the perimeter, he displays nice form when he is shooting with his feet set, complete with a quick release. However, he must correct his tendency to push the ball and not fully extend his arms in his shooting form. He must use his height and length more to his advantage in most areas of his game, but it would be most helpful in his shooting motion. His movement around the perimeter is not good enough for him play there at the next level, but he does move more naturally on the perimeter than he does in the paint. He recognizes the mismatch he creates and exploits it to get open shots. He is also a decent mid-range jump shooter. He dribbles the ball surprisingly well for a big man and has better quickness when going into his mid-range motion than anywhere else in his game. This is not to say that he has become a great mid-range shooter, as he still has a lot of work to do in terms of form and consistency.

Butch is also fairly turnover prone, being a sub-par passer and decision maker. His 0.6 assists/game average reflects his inability to create when offensive opportunities are not there for him. He is equally weak in transition and when he is not inches away from the basket with the ball in his hands, he is dropping passes or throwing balls out of bounds. His defensive ability also leaves much to be desired as he is extremely soft in the post, but his mobility and length suggest that if pushed and taught fundamentals, he could at least be intimidating on the blocks

[DrReality]

He might meet the need for a shooter but sounds like the odds are pretty long.

[EazyRoc]

Quote:

---

Insidehoops....

Two NBA teams will take a closer look at

Brian Butch

in the next few weeks. The former Wisconsin forward will be in Boston next week to participate in the Celtics minicamp. Next month, he'll be at Atlanta's minicamp and then play with the Hawks in the Utah summer league. "He's in a good spot," agent Scott Alexander said. The two offers are attractive to Butch for different reasons. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Not an great prospect, poor finisher.... but does have size(6'11) and range

A sentence from the Draft Express scouting report:

Where Butch does look most promising, however, is from the perimeter. He is a prolific shooter and shot a respectable 47.5 % from the field and 34.0% from beyond the arc.

He reminds me of Jason Collier.....

He's a cheaper version of David Andersen. However, from the tone of his scouting report, he may not make the roster.

[DrReality]

The NBA All-Undrafted Team: 1990 - 2006

March 23, 2007

We’re all about the unheralded gems of the sportsworld here at Empty the Bench. After naming our All NBA Second-Round Pick Team earlier this week (sorry, guys, we’re still not picking Walton over Korver), we’re back to dig even deeper and unearth the NBA players who got even less respect on draft day than their second-round brethren.

Like with the second-round picks, ETB has named our starting five—encompassing only those players who entered the league from 1990 on—as well as two honorable mentions for each position. Between our starting five we have a few Defensive Player of the Year awards, a fistful of All-NBA Defensive Team honors, a gaggle of NBA Championships, and the most dimunitive man in the league. Think a few GMs are kicking themselves for passing over these guys? If we’ve overlooked anybody, please add them in the comments section.

STARTERS

Point Guard

Earl Boykins, 1998 (Eastern Michigan)

It’s sometimes easy to miss the littlest guy on the court amongst the trees surrounding him, but Boykins hasn’t let his lack of size keep him from becoming a valuable contributor for the bulk of his nine-year career in the league. We considered naming Mike James to this spot and bumping Earl down to an Honorable Mention, below, but James has only recently developed into a starting-caliber guy, and besides: who thought a skinny, unheralded 5-5 point guard would last this long and play so well? Coming in undrafted, coupled with his size disadvantage, has forced Earl to overcome long odds, and for that alone he has earned this spot.

Oh, yeah, he’s a pretty decent player, too. Currently suiting up for the Milwaukee Bucks (he’s been sidelined with torn ligaments in his thumb), Boykins has averaged double digit scoring each of the past four seasons, corresponding with his move to the Denver Nuggets in 2003-04. He’s not as big of a steals guy as you might guess, averaging less than one a game over his career, but his coaches don’t play him for defense. With Earl, it’s all about scoring and giving his team a change of pace. Plus, doesn’t his impish-sounding last name, “Boykins,” just seem to suit him perfectly?

Shooting Guard

Raja Bell, 1999 (Florida International)

David Wesley, listed below, has the stronger career resume at this point, but we feel that when it’s all said and done Raja will have finished the race as the better player. Bell didn’t blossom until his fourth year in the NBA, when as a member of the Utah Jazz he averaged 11.2 points a game in only 24 minutes of action. His minutes have increased every year since then, as have his statistical and intangible contributions on both the offensive and defensive ends. Raja has indeed become one of the better on-ball defenders for a Phoenix Suns team that doesn’t emphasis D very much; just ask Kobe.

Since arriving in Phoenix during the 2005-06 season, Bell has averaged 2.5 three-pointers a night, sinking them at about a 42.5% clip. It’s crazy how consistent his averages have been over his two seasons running alongside Steve Nash: his points, FG PCT, assists, rebounds, FT PCT, three-pointers made, blocks, and turnovers are nearly identical. Bell is a key cog in the Suns’ starting lineup, and will undoubtedly play a major role in his team’s upcoming playoff run.

Small Forward

Bruce Bowen, 1993, (Cal-State Fullerton)

The guy you love to hate. Mr. Intangible. Clutch three-pointers from the corner. Dirty. Pain in the ass. Sticks to his opponents like glue. All of these things describe the best defensive player on a San Antonio team that prides itself on its D. If it wasn’t for Ben Wallace, Bowen would probably have at least four Defensive Player of the Year awards on his trophy shelf, but he’ll just have to settle for three championship rings and six straight years on the NBA’s All-Defensive Team. Not too bad for a guy who came into the league as an afterthought amongst afterthoughts. Raise your hand if you remember seeing Bowen suit up as a member of the Miami Heat during his rookie season. Liar—he played just one minute in one game.

Bowen played in all 82 games last season for the Spurs, logging over 30 minutes each night. In fact, he’s now played in 421 straight dating all the way back to 2002; that’s good for the longest standing streak in the league. His career averages are rather pedestrian—6.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, 40% FG—and he’s an absolutely pathetic free-throw shooter in the mold of Shaq (okay, maybe not that bad), but anyone who has followed the NBA over the past six or seven years know how valuable Bowen is to his team.

Power Forward

Udonis Haslem, 2003 (Florida)

Bear with me, I need to get something off my chest in regards to one of the few still-young players on the defending champion Miami Heat. Udonis, for the love of God, keep that f%*$ing mouthpiece in your mouth! Don’t play with it, don’t take it out after every whistle, don’t wave it around like a flag. It’s a disgusting habit, my man, and it annoys ETB to no end.

Okay. With that out of the way, Haslem has walked an admirable path on his way to becoming the starting power forward for the Miami Heat. After ending his collegiate career at Florida, a rotund Haslem traveled to France to play for Chalon Sur-Soane; over the course of that successful season, not only did he hone his basketball skills, but perhaps just as importantly dropped over 70 pounds! Needless to say, that year overseas helped his NBA prospects immensely, and after signing on with the Heat he was named to the All-NBA rookie second team.

Haslem played a major role in the Heat’s championship run last season, especially against the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals (damn you for that, Udonis). He’s a tenacious rebounder, solid defender, and has greatly improved his mid-range jump shot this season, and for his career is a 50% shooter from the field. This season, his free-throw shooting is down (69%), but he doesn’t shoot many anyway and is averaging a solid 10.6 points and 8.3 rebounds.

Center

Ben Wallace, 1996 (Virginia Union)

Big Ben is obviously the anchor of this starting five. What more can be said about Wallace that hasn’t been said before? His ascension to the top of the defensive standout throne didn’t begin in earnest until he was traded, along with Chucky Atkins (below), to the Detroit Pistons in 2000-01 in the Grant Hill deal. Since then, he’s simply become one of the NBA’s very best defenders, rebounders, shot-blockers, and hustle players. It all translated to a lucrative free-agent deal with the Chicago Bulls this past offseason—4 years, $60 million, despite being on the downside of his wildly successful career.

And just what has Wallace accomplished in that career? Oh, not much: one NBA title, four all-star appearances, four Defensive Player of the Year awards, five times on the All-NBA team (three on the second team, two on the third), five times on the All-NBA Defensive First Team, and still the only player in NBA history to record 1,000 rebounds, 100 blocks, and 100 steals in four consecutive seasons. When it’s all said and done, Wallace will likely retire as the most successful undrafted player to ever step foot on an NBA court. Heck, he would probably hold that honor if he retired tomorrow.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Point Guard

Mike James, 1998 (Duquesne) - James translated his breakout season last year with the Toronto Raptors into a nice, fat payday from Kevin McHale—Forbes’ best GM in professional sports—and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Things haven’t especially worked out for either party yet, but putting this year aside James has clearly exceeded any expectations (if there were any) he had coming out of college. He was a key member off the bench for the Detroit Pistons 2004 NBA title, can be a bull of a defender when he wants to be, and when he’s feeling it (keyword “when”) is wholly capable of dropping dimes left and right.

Chucky Atkins, 1996 (South Florida) - Chucky is a starter. Wow. But, hey, I suppose he’s earned it (by default) down in Memphis this year, and is indeed enjoying the best season of his eight-year career. He doesn’t do anything spectacularly well, but he’s solid in most areas that a point guard needs to be solid in: he can shoot the three ball with some consistency, is a decent passer, doesn’t turn the ball over much, and keeps his field-goal percentage over 40%.

Shooting Guard

Matt Carroll, 2003 (Notre Dame) - Until this season, Carroll never averaged more than 17 minutes and 9 points a game, but he’s solidified himself in the Charlotte Bobcats rotation in 2006-07 and become a key contributor off the bench, mostly for his three-point shooting. Still only 26 years old, Carroll has shown steady improvement every year of his NBA career, and is in midst of his best scoring season at 12.2/game.

David Wesley, 1992 (Baylor) - During an 11-year spell that stretched from the mid-90s to the mid-00s, Wesley averaged double digits in points and at least 1 three-pointer while playing well over 30 minutes a night for the Celtics, Hornets, and Rockets. Now on his last leg with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Wesley has career averages of 12.5 points, 4.4 assists, and 42% FG. Not bad, not bad.

Small Forward

Andres Nocioni, 2004 (Argentina) - In just three years in the league, Nocioni has established himself as a balls-out defense guy in the mold of Bruce Bowen; not as good of a one-on-one ball defender, but a much more polished, consistent scorer. Unfortunately (for the Bulls), his season has been derailed by a bothersome foot, but over the past two seaons he’s put up 14 points, 6 boards, 46% FG, and countless hustle plays. A lot of GMs in this league would love to have him on their squad.

Maurice Evans, 2001 (Texas) - Mo has developed into a nice player off the bench, and even filled in as a spot starter for the Los Angeles Lakers earlier this season, a stint that included a 26 points, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 61% FG effort (okay, it was against the Warriors, big deal!). Evans is an erratic shooter and has a tendency to disappear at times all together, but when his head is in the game and he hits a few early shots, this guy is capable of contributing a quality 12-20 minutes to his team.

Power Forward

Reggie Evans, 2002 (Iowa) - Rebounds. That about says it all for the slightly undersized PF who’s now making his living with the Denver Nuggets. He averages just over 7 of those bad boys a night, and that’s pretty much what he’s out there for. Evans is perhaps most famous, however, for violating Chris “Cave Man” Kaman.

Malik Allen - PF 2000 (Villanova) - Nothing really spectacular (at all) about Allen’s game, but there’s a reason he’s stuck around the league for six seasons now. Decent defender, decent rebounder, can put the ball in the hoop from time to time. Honestly, there weren’t many other power forwards for consideration here—are we missing anybody?

Center

Brad Miller, 1998 (Purdue) - Brad, Brad, Brad, Brad, Brad… why did you have to pick the one season I draft you for my fantasy team to send your normally reliable game into the tank? Until this season, Miller was one of more under-appreciated centers in the league, a guy who could fill up the stat sheet with points, rebounds, assists, three-pointers, and a high field-goal percentage. He’s having his worst season, statistically, since the turn of the century.

Jorge Garbajosa, 2006 (Spain) - I have a feeling we might get raked over the coals on this one, especially since he’s one of these “hybrid” guys who plays multiple frontcourt positions. But let’s be honest: outside of perhaps Aaron Williams and Mikki Moore, there just haven’t been many undrafted centers to make much of an impact over the past 16 years. If you know of one, please state his case in the comments section. Jorge has adjusted to the NBA game very well in his first season, giving the young Raptors a good dose of versatility and reliability. He’s putting up 8.3 points, 5 boards, and 2 assists so far, but his role figures to increase with Bargnani likely out for the season.

[MoonKnight]

from South Alabama U according to cite given on Sekou's blog. Don't know much about him except that he is a shooting guard with NBA three point range according to the article.

[Guest]

How is Jose Calderon not on that list?

...I see it was from March 2007, that explains Garbajosa on there but not Calderon.

[DJ_Money]

Every Summer League squad needs a big, white stiff! (Or two!)

[KB21]

Reggie Williams, SG, Virginia Military Institue -- There is no agreement yet, but he has an offer to play in the Hawks summer league. Reggie lead divison one in scoring for two seasons.

Also on Bennett, the guy is a lights out shooter. Apparently, the Hawks want him to show a diversified skill set in camp. His coach at South Alabama said that the Hawks want him to show that he can play the point guard position as well as be a shooter.

[Chris18]

It's good to see that we're bringing shooters in that can compete with Jeremy for a roster spot and even if they don't work out we can send them to the d-leauge until we need them.

[DrReality]

I read where he is one of the best remaining too.

Pat Calathes - Previous Team: Saint Joseph's, Senior

Physicals:

H: 6' 10"

W: 210 lbs

Bday: 12/12/1985

(22 Years Old)

Positions:

Current: SF/PF

NBA: SF

Possible: SF/PF

Rankings:

Round: 2 Pick: 15 in 2008 Mock Draft

Rank 11 in NCAA Seniors

Rank 9 in Top Small Forwards

Agent:

Jason