The Mavericks have been keeping this under wraps officially, but it was expected.
Caron Butler underwent season-ending surgery Tuesday to repair a ruptured right patellar tendon, according to Art Garcia of NBA.com. It’s a sad thing to see happen to one of the better people in the NBA.
And it’s going to be tough for the Mavericks to overcome.
We’ve said before that this will mean more Shawn Marion — although he is not the spot-up shooter within the Mavericks offense that Butler is — and more Jason Terry.
What’s more, neither of them brings the balance at both ends of the floor Butler does. As Mike Prada pointed out at SBNation, look at the plus/minus data and the Mavericks are better at both ends of the floor when Butler is on the floor. He makes the Mavericks +7.4 point per 100 possessions better than what the Mavericks are when he sits.
That’s a big drop off. In three weeks or a month when Rodrigue Beaubois returns it will bring a different energy to the table for Dallas. Something that may help fill the gaps of what Butler left behind — a very different style of play, but something that can work well.
Dallas may also seek a disabled player exception, which would allow them for 45 days to sign or trade a player for half of Butlers’ salary. So about $2.7 million. Not a lot but it might provide some options.
Tuesday night the Mavericks will again have to get against the Blazers without Butler or Dirk Nowitzki, who remains out with a sprained knee.