Caron Butler Added To Heat Coaching Staff

Caron Butler has joined the Miami Miami as an assistant coach, according to Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press. The former Heat forward was selected 10th overall in the 2002 draft after his collegiate career at Connecticut. He earned All-Rookie first team with averages of 15.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game in 78 starts.

Butler was packaged in a deal, along with Brian Grant and Lamar Odom, to the Los Angeles Lakers for Shaquille O’Neal in 2004. He would go on to play for the Lakers, Wizards, Mavericks, Clippers, Bucks, Thunder, Pistons and Kings before his retirement in 2018.

He was a 2-time All-Star with the Wizards in 2007 and 2008. He won a championship as a member of the Dallas Mavericks despite not playing after January. His season was ended by a ruptured right patellar tendon.

Butler was always a fan favorite despite his short stint in Miami. His on-court play fit perfectly in the Heat’s system. He was also influential to Dwyane Wade, the best player in the franchise’s history.

Caron Butler spent only his first two NBA seasons with the Heat.

But his impact? Massive.

"Caron taught me everything about how to be a professional," Dwyane Wade told AP in 2017. "He was only in his second year when I got here but he knew a lot."

And now he comes home.

— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) November 13, 2020

The Sun-Sentinel’s Ira Winderman shared some of Butler’s thoughts about beginning his coaching career. Tough Juice, as he is affectionately known, was also congratulated former teammate turned part-time Heat cheerleader Kendrick Perkins.

Caron Butler to the Sun-Sentinel on joining Erik Spoelstra’s coaching staff, “this is something I’ve always wanted to do. I just felt like this was my calling.“

— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) November 13, 2020

Congratulations to my brother @realtuffjuice on his new Journey!!! He’s going to be an ELITE addition to the Miami Heat coaching staff.

— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) November 13, 2020

Miami needed to add a new member to the staff after Dan Craig became an assistant for the L.A. Clippers. Butler will join Erik Spoelstra, Chris Quinn, Malik Allen, Anthony Carter and Octavio De La Grana on the bench.

There were some thoughts about captain Udonis Haslem taking on that role. However, Haslem announced that he would be returning for his 18th season with the team on a one-year $2.5 million contract. Buy shirt in his honor.

Royal A. Shepherd (@RoyalAShepherd) has written for several major newspapers, including the Tallahassee Democrat and the Augusta Chronicle, and now contributes to Five Reasons Sports.