Wizards Talking Caron Butler For Kirk Hinrich

January 2nd, 2010 by Andrew Wamboldt

According to Mike Jones, a former Washington Wizards beat writer, Caron Butler and Mike James could be traded to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Kirk Hinrich and Jerome James.

The Wizards might not have a hard time dealing Caron Butler in a package deal with James, however, but not to Houston. I’m hearing Butler and James could be headed to either Miami or Chicago. Some of the pieces Washington could be trying to get back from Chicago, the source said, could be Kirk Hinrich and Jerome James.

The trade puts a little more money on the Bulls’ salaries next year as Caron Butler makes $1.56 million more than Kirk Hinrich next year. Mike James’ and Jerome James’ expiring contracts cancel each other out. Past next season, Butler’s contract is more favorable than Hinrich’s, as it expires after next season, while Hinrich’s contract has an additional year.

Caron Butler is having a down year right now, averaging 16.9 points on 52.0 TS%, but that is still world’s better than Hinrich’s season, in which he is averaging 8.5 points on 44.7 TS%.

If this is trade is indeed on the table, the Bulls should take it, and then find away to move John Salmons for an expiring contract in order to keep their 2010 flexibility as good as possible. The trade is a no brainer talent wise, as even in his down year, Butler is a significant upgrade over Hinrich.