ORLANDO, Fla. -- Dallas small forward Caron Butler sounded like he would be going to the pet store to pick out a puppy when he started talking Wednesday night about his upcoming free agency. "I could have the opportunity to take the pick of the litter,'' Butler told FanHouse before his Mavericks lost to the Magic. "If everything goes well this season, it will be my choice, take your pick, wherever I want to go.''
Butler, 30, may be coming off his worst season in years, split between Washington and Dallas, but he is expecting a quick turnaround in his contract year.
Even with limited minutes of the exhibition schedule, he has reached double figure scoring and had at least five rebounds in four of his last five games.
He showed up for training camp about 10 pounds lighter than a year ago after coach Rick Carlisle told him what he wanted this season during his exit interview last spring. He wanted Butler more explosive, quicker, able to reach the free throw line more often. Butler responded by working harder than he ever had before in the offseason.
"You can tell now, he spent a lot of time working on things this summer,'' Carlisle said. "He's in phenomenal shape. We're going to look different this season.''Carlisle plans to use Butler more at small forward and less at shooting guard than he did after his arrival in February in the multi-player deal that also included Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson in Dallas.
Butler was thrilled to be traded from the dysfunctional Wizards to the contending Mavericks last season, but his scoring average dipped from 16.9 points to 15.2 points. He shot just 42.8 percent from the field, the lowest since his second year in the league. And the Mavericks, despite winning 55 games, were upset in the first round by San Antonio.
"It's difficult coming in the middle of the season. You're trying to fit in on the fly. Last year, we never got off page one of the playbook offensively,'' he said. "Now, with a whole training camp, and a chance to put your identity on the team, you can go deep into the playbook. It's going to make it better for everyone here.''
Butler, now in his ninth season, has been past the first round of the playoffs just once -- his second year in Miami -- something he expects to change in Dallas.
"I'm going to be a better player here. I know exactly where I fit now. I know my role. I know what's expected,'' he said. "I can put my stamp on the team.''
Butler had his best years in Washington when he teamed with Antawn Jamison and Gilbert Arenas, a formidable scoring trio. He averaged career highs of 20.3 and 20.8 points in the two seasons Arenas missed with injuries. It's not something he expects to duplicate, not with the depth the Mavericks have now.At this point in his career, he knows being part of a big winner will increase his value more than just raising his scoring average again. He will be making $10.5 million this season, hoping to land the final long-term deal of his career, knowing it will be contingent on the next collective bargaining agreement.
"I'll be at the perfect age (30 for free agency) this summer,'' he said. "We have the opportunity to do something really special in Dallas. And obviously, you always want to have a great year before free agency. Right now this is the ideal situation for me. I'm looking forward to a good season -- and a great summer.''
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