by Charlie O. Mallonee

The Sacramento Kings have added small forward Caron Butler to their roster according to Yahoo Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski. The Kings have not yet confirmed the signing, but there is no reason to question the unnamed source who leaked the information of the transaction.

Butler is a 6-foot-7, 228 pound, forward who has been in “the association” for 13 years. He was drafted in the first round out of UConn in 2002 by the Miami Heat. Butler has played with eight different teams over those 13 seasons.

Butler played for the Detroit Pistons last season. He appeared in 78 games (21 starts). Butler averaged 5.9 points in 20.8 minutes of playing time. He shot .407 from the field and .379 from beyond the 3-point arc. Butler averaged 2.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists in those 78 games.

The 35 year old Butler will provide some much needed veteran presence in Kings locker room that features players mostly in their 20’s. Butler – who has been to the playoffs seven times in his career – will be able to impart what it takes to be a playoff contender to his younger colleagues.

You can look for Butler to come off the bench with the second unit when Omri Casppi needs to come out of game situations. He will probably play 15 – 18 minutes per game.

International Players Identified

The Kings released the names of the two international players whose draft rights they procured in the five player trade with Philadelphia. They are Arturas Gudaitis and Luka Mitrovic.

Gudaitis is a 6-foot-10, 254 pound center who plays for BC Lietuvos Rytas of the Lithuanian Basketball League. In his 20 Euroleague games last season, Gudaitis averaged 6.5 points and 2.1 rebounds per game. He played an average of 15-plus minutes per game.

Scouts like his muscular size but say he needs to use how to use his size to its fullest potential. The Sixers drafted Gudaitis in the second round (47th overall).

Mitrovic is a 6-foot-9, 225 pound forward who plays for Crvena Zvezda Belgrade of the Basketball League of Serbia. He averages 8.6 points and 5.2 rebounds in 24.7 minutes of playing time. Mitrovic appeared in 24 games (20 starts) last season.

Mitrovic helped his team – Crvena Zvezda – win the Adriatic League championship and the Serbian League championship as well as the Radivoj Korac’ Cup.

Philadelphia drafted Mitrovic in the second round (60th overall).