HoopsHype.com Rumors

The strained left elbow that sidelined Caron Butler the last two games has improved, and the Clippers small forward said there is "definitely a strong possibility" that he will play Sunday when the Clippers face the New York Knicks at Staples Center. "I feel like it's getting better every day, every treatment session. I've been coming in at night and getting shots up, getting the motion to stretch back. So I feel really good," Butler said Friday. Butler was injured during Sunday's game against Detroit. The Clippers will practice again Saturday and then see how Butler feels. Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Clippers, Injuries, Caron Butler 

Caron Butler, who is nursing a left elbow strain, returned to practice Friday morning and sounds optimistic he will play Sunday when the Clippers face the New York Knicks in ABC’s national NBA showcase. “I feel like it’s going to be a strong possibility that I play Sunday,” Butler said. “I’m feeling better every day and every treatment session. I’ve been coming in every night, getting shots up and getting the motion and strength back, so I feel really good.” NBA.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Injuries, Caron Butler 

Brad Turner: Caron Butler left elbow strain after MRI on Monday. VDN says Butler out a week. Twitter @BA_Turner

Los Angeles Clippers, Injuries, Caron Butler 

Arash Markazi: Caron Butler has a left elbow contusion. He's questionable. The Clippers don't play again until Wednesday. Twitter @ArashMarkazi

Los Angeles Clippers, Injuries, Caron Butler 

Kurt Helin: Clippers players and Vinny Del Negro seemed concerned about the severity of Caron Butler's elbow injury. X-rays were negative, MRI Mon. Twitter @basketballtalk

Los Angeles Clippers, Vinny Del Negro, Injuries, Caron Butler 

The Clips stood pat, but not by their basketball people's choice. L.A. and Washington had a done deal Wednesday night that would have sent forward Trevor Ariza to the Clippers in exchange for Caron Butler, giving L.A. a long, defensive-oriented body to throw at the likes of Kevin Durant in the playoffs. (Butler, who still has an offseason home in the D.C. area, and who was loved by the locals, didn't have a problem returning to a non-Arenas Wizards locker room. He'd have been welcomed back as a much-needed offensive option, according to sources.) NBA.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Washington Wizards, Trade, Trevor Ariza, Caron Butler 

But sources indicated that Clippers owner Donald Sterling nixed the deal Thursday morning, not wanting to gamble on the team's chemistry being affected in any way down the stretch. My interpretation: we don't want to do anything that could, in any way, be held against us by assistant general manager Chris Paul this summer if we don't get far in the postseason. NBA.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Washington Wizards, Trade, Trevor Ariza, Caron Butler, Donald Sterling 

Gary Washburn: Keep being told by NBA source that the #clippers and #celtics haven't discussed KG and that Clips want no part of approaching luxury tax Twitter @GwashNBAGlobe

Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers, Trade, Eric Bledsoe, Caron Butler, Kevin Garnett, DeAndre Jordan 

Despite the stern denials that emerged in the wake of Sporting News' report that the Los Angeles Clippers had approached the Boston Celtics about the possibility of a trade that would bring Kevin Garnett to Los Angeles, the possibility of a deal lives on. More than two weeks ago, the Clippers’ proposal centered around Eric Bledsoe and Caron Butler for Garnett, but, as reported by Yahoo! Sports on Friday, the Clippers have upped the deal to include Bledsoe and DeAndre Jordan. A source told SN that the original offer was a “starting point,” and the Clippers have always been willing to increase their bid. Sporting News

Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers, Trade, Eric Bledsoe, Caron Butler, Kevin Garnett, DeAndre Jordan 

Chris Broussard: If Boston wants WGreen, RTuriaf & C Butler, sure the Clips front office will take KG, but not for Bled & Jordan. Twitter @Chris_Broussard

Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers, Trade, Eric Bledsoe, Ronny Turiaf, Caron Butler, Willie Green, Kevin Garnett, DeAndre Jordan 

Sean Deveney: Sources tell Sporting News that the #Clippers have contacted the #Celtics about Kevin Garnett. Offer would include Caron Butler and Beldsoe. Twitter @SeanDeveney

Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers, Trade, Eric Bledsoe, Caron Butler, Kevin Garnett 

Sean Deveney: Remember, Celtics have not yet decided whether they're going to stick it out with this team or make changes just yet. Twitter @SeanDeveney

Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers, Trade, Eric Bledsoe, Caron Butler, Kevin Garnett 

Eric Koreen: Jonas Valanciunas was rather annoyed about Butler's last second play. And, um, disappointed the two teams don't meet again this yr. Twitter

Los Angeles Clippers, Toronto Raptors, Caron Butler, Jonas Valanciunas 

I broke down the Rudy Gay situation on Wednesday, but there's another potential team to add to the mix: the aforementioned Clippers. While it remains unclear how determined the Memphis Grizzlies and their new management group are to move their star small forward before the Feb. 21 deadline, a package involving Clippers backup point guard Eric Bledsoe and veteran small forward Caron Butler, picks and other players to make the money work could be just what the Grizzlies are looking for. It's clear they are on the lookout for an upgrade over reserve point guard Jerryd Bayless, and Butler would fill Gay's small forward spot – albeit not nearly as well. The Clippers, I'm told, would consider Gay but are also justifiably wary of doing anything to affect the chemistry that has played such a big part in their season. USA Today Sports

Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Trade, Rudy Gay, Eric Bledsoe, Jerryd Bayless, Caron Butler 

Three days away from the opening of training camp, small forward Caron Butler is as fresh as he’s ever been. “This is probably the first time in four or five years that I’ve entered a season without at least some kind of nagging injury, so I feel great,” Butler said Wednesday at the Clippers’ Playa Vista Training Center. “Last year, coming off the lockout and my knee injury, and kind of getting ‘thrown’ into it I felt like I was pretty successful, averaging 12 points and doing a lot of little things to make a contribution. And only missing two games [due to injury].” NBA.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Injuries, Caron Butler 

Madelyn Burke: Caught up w/ Caron Butler at the #Clippers practice facility... Watch this int. w/ a cameo by one of his new teammates: nba.com/clippers/video… Twitter

Los Angeles Clippers, Caron Butler 

Caron Butler's statement on UConn's Jim Calhoun. "Coach Calhoun single handily changed my life from the moment I stepped onto the University of Connecticut campus and joined his program. He knew my background, understood me as a young man, welcomed me with open arms and helped me embrace my talents. He was the first one to really believe in me and told me that I could have a great future in basketball if I continued to work hard. It was his guidance and direction that made me believe it too. He defines what a coach and player relationship can be when it is built on trust and mutual admiration. It is a special bond that allows for both people to have the opportunity to excel in their greatness. I will always be grateful to him for allowing me to have that with him. Sulia

Los Angeles Clippers, Coaching, Caron Butler, Jim Calhoun 

The NBA will put its focus on earthquake stricken areas in Sichuan province in the lead up to this fall's China Games. Former Houston Rockets star Yao Ming and Los Angeles Clippers forward Caron Butler will spearhead campus activities and clinics the weekend before the sixth edition of the league's tour of China. At the first leg on Friday, two-time All-Star Butler will visit Mount Qingcheng High School in Dujiangyan, a city destroyed in the devastating Wenchuan earthquake on May 12, 2008. He is scheduled to instruct students at a mini camp. China Daily

Los Angeles Clippers, Yao Ming, Caron Butler, China 

Los Angeles Clippers forward Caron Butler came close to signing with the Spurs as a free agent before the start of the season. Butler said he nearly signed with the Spurs after an impressive courtship from Gregg Popovich and the team’s management. “As a free agent, I was extremely close to coming here,” Butler said Monday at the Clippers’ shootaround practice. “This is a great franchise, a great city.” San Antonio Express-News

Los Angeles Clippers, San Antonio Spurs, Free Agency, Caron Butler 

Jeff McDonald: Clips' Caron Butler said he came close to signing w/Spurs during Dec free agency. Had plane ticket purchased, cancelled it. Twitter

Los Angeles Clippers, San Antonio Spurs, Free Agency, Caron Butler