Caron Butler

Forward, #1

• Born March 13, 1980
• Attended Connecticut
• Coached by Frank Hamblen, Rudy Tomjanovich

Selected by Miami in the first round of the 2002 NBA draft, Caron Butler was traded to the Lakers along with Lamar Odom and Brian Grant in exchange for Shaquille O’Neal before the 2004-05 season. A standout at Connecticut, Butler started in 77 games and scored a season-high 34 points against Sacramento in April. He finished the season second in scoring on the team behind Kobe Bryant, but was unable to help fulfill the big-man role the team needed after O’Neal’s departure. In August 2005, Butler was traded with Chucky Atkins to Washington in exchange for Kwame Brown and Laron Profit. He was a two-time All-Star with the Wizards.