Bucks' Butler on role:'If a hometown guy can't be happy here or guys like that, who will come here?'
When Wisconsin native Caron Butler was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks prior to the start of the season, he envisioned his homecoming to be a much happier experience.
While he's attempted to remain patient with the process of playing on a rebuilding team, the veteran still appears confused as to why he continues to play limited minutes.
"The information I received before coming here is that 'You're going to play a lot,'" Butler told the Journal Sentinel. "And I want to play. I want to be out there to help the situation.
"If we're developing on the fly, and I know Giannis (Antetokounmpo) has to play and guys have to play, but OK, there are a lot of ways those guys can play and we can still be out there developing those guys as well.
"Coach (Larry Drew) understands that and I've talked to him. He's been more than helpful, and (general manager) John Hammond and everyone. I know it's a process and we'll get through it. We're not even halfway through the season. Hopefully something turns for the better for the team and myself."
While the 33-year-old holds out hope that his minutes will increase and has not publicly requested a trade, he did fire a shot in the direction of his current club regarding how they have treated him and other veterans.
"You're playing with fire either way. On the same note, this is a small market. It's home for me, but it's not home for a lot of people. To get guys like myself and O.J. Mayo and Gary Neal to come in in free agency, you have to make it attractive for free agents to come to a market like this.
"If a hometown guy can't be happy here or guys like that, who will come here? I've never been one to bite my tongue and I've got a lot of friends in the NBA, and I express myself. As of now I'm happy and I want to be here, but I'm going to continue to express myself."
Neal and Mayo are both seeing time below their career averages, with Mayo, a regular starter to begin the season, coming off the bench for the last 13 games.
Butler has played over 19 minutes just twice in the last 10 games and hasn't started since Dec 23. With his $8 million contract expiring at the end of the season, the 33-year-old wishes to stay in Milwaukee.
"Ideally I want to play a few more years and particularly I would love to stay here. I expressed that to the Senator (Bucks owner Herb Kohl) and to management as well. This wasn't supposed to be a visit. It was supposed to be a stay, a couple years and exit out the right way.
"And I feel that way in my heart. I mind the losing but I understand it's a process. I know we will be a lot better next year. But we still can develop guys on the fly and get a lot better this year as well."