After spending three games on the bench while allowing his strained left hip flexor to heal, Caron Butler is playing today against the Los Angeles Lakers. Wizards coach Eddie Jordan said he and his assistants will closely monitor Butler's minutes and see how he responds to contact.
Pau mania
The Lakers' trade for Pau Gasol officially went through this morning and the 7-foot Spaniard gave his first press conference since being shipped out of Memphis for Kwame Brown, two first round picks and two other players. The blockbuster move has whipped not only the NBA community into a frenzy, but also Gasol's supporters in Spain. Roughly 30 members of the Spanish media decended upon Verizon Center this morning, making the Wizards' normally comfortable interview room rather crammed. The first seven minutes of Gasol's 10-minute press conference was conducted in spanish. Finally one of the American reporters interrupted and asked, "Now, what did you just say in all that?" Gasol laughed and said, "That's a lot of rewinding to do."
He went on to say "I can't believe what just happened. I am truly excited about what I am going through right now. I didn't see it coming. I didn't know anything about it. I found out after practice and the next thing I know, three hours later, I was on a plane to Los Angeles. I am really excited and I am trying to digest everything I am going through. I am ready to rock and roll."
Gasol on the best part of the trade: "I think everything is good about it. The best part is that right away I will have the chance to win. We have the opportunity to go out there and accomplish something great and something special. This is a great team, coaching staff and great organization. It is one of the best, if not the best."
Gasol on the pressure to win: "I think it is a great kind of pressure. The pressure to win and being one of the favorites is what you want, and something that I have been missing since I have been in the NBA. I love that I have that with my national team every summer. I had that before I was in the NBA, with Barcelona, and that is what i have from now on."
Lakers coach Phil Jackson said Gasol won't play, believing that it is better to let him have at least one practice in the Triangle Offense and get a feel for things. But once Gasol has a chance to "get his feet under him," Jackson expects him to give the Lakers a boost.
"He's a skilled player," Jackson said. "He can shoot ball, pass and do a lot of things. In this game, size helps a lot and we haven't had a scoring post since [Andrew] Bynum's been out, so [Gasol] can help us a little bit and take some pressure off Kobe."
