http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/7332501/caron-butler-takes-3-year-24m-deal-los-angeles-clippers

Caron Butler goes to Clippers

Former Dallas Mavericks forward Caron Butler agreed to a three-year, $24 million contract with Los Angeles Clippers Thursday, according to his agent Raymond Brothers.

Butler had also considered San Antonio, New Jersey and Chicago, but ultimately the opportunity to team with Blake Griffin and Eric Gordon in Los Angeles proved too enticing.

"He's very excited to be with Blake," Brothers said. "And very excited to be with a young upcoming team he believes he can help win a championship."

According to another league source, the Spurs offered Butler a four-year, $21 million deal, the full value of their mid-level exception. The Nets went even bigger -- four years and $30 million, according to sources -- but Butler preferred to play in Los Angeles alongside Griffin and Gordon.

The Clippers had pursued both Butler and Detroit forward Tayshaun Prince this week. They only offered Prince a one-year deal, however, according to a league source, and he elected to re-sign with the Pistons on a four-year, $27 million deal, according to ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher.

Butler played just 29 games last season with the Mavs before rupturing the patellar tendon in his right knee on New Year's Day. He underwent major surgery, and despite exhaustive rehab, was unable to return for Dallas' championship run.

Mavs coaches and front office personnel consistently lauded Butler's effort to return and he believes his right knee is back to 100 percent.

Dallas, however, was reluctant to offer Butler anything more than a one-year contract, an approach the club seems to also be taking with its other free agents.

Josh Howard becomes the top swingman on the market now that Butler has agreed with the Clippers. Howard is considering San Antonio, Denver, New Jersey, Utah, Washington and Chicago, sources tell ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard.

Ramona Shelburne is a reporter and columnist for ESPNLosAngeles.com. Information from ESPNDallas.com's Jeff Caplan was used in this report.

Follow Ramona Shelburne on Twitter: @ramonashelburne

Man, I thought SA was gonna axe Jefferson and pick up Bulter.

crzymdups wrote:surprised Caron went to the Clips over the Bulls. $8M is ridiculously high for him off an injury. if he's healthy it's a good add for the Clips... but doesn't address their main need at PG.

This offseason is going to once again show that the owners can lockout the players as long as they like, try to negotiate any deal they want, but at the end of the day their own stupidity will trump any system changes! I can't wait to see what David West gets (average to start with, over 30, coming off a serious injury- but somehow some team will convince themselves that he is magically healed and will never age). Still I'd rather gamble on Butler than Prince- I can't believe the Pistons signed him to that new deal- what goes through their mind?!