Natalie Butler

[Willie E.Gold]

Minnesota need a back up for Fowles, Natalie would be ideal .Sword and Mercedes are on rosters and neither are better players.Perhaps ,someone on this thread that have connections with the LYNX would contact and make that suggestion.She can shoot,rebound and make free throws. Think McCarville ,but at least 5 inches taller. Just a thought.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Natalie ain't no backup!

 

[Carnac]

Minnesota need a back up for Fowles, Natalie would be ideal .Sword and Mercedes are on rosters and neither are better players.Perhaps ,someone on this thread that have connections with the LYNX would contact and make that suggestion.She can shoot,rebound and make free throws. Think McCarville ,but at least 5 inches taller. Just a thought.

Willie..........................Butler was drafted by the wings in the 3rd round in the latest WNBA draft. They looked at her in drills, intra squad and preseason games over the next 24 days. She was subsequently waived May 10, no other team picked her up. BTW, not a single player drafted in the 3rd round in this draft is in the league as of today. They were ALL waived.

If the Wings or any other franchise felt she could add value to their team, or could help them win games, they would have claimed her, like the Las Vegas Aces claimed Lindsey Allen after she was waived by the New York Liberty, or the Indiana Fever recently claimed Cappie Pondexter after being waived by the LA Sparks. Every team knows she's unsigned and available.

 

[eebmg]

Minnesota need a back up for Fowles, Natalie would be ideal .Sword and Mercedes are on rosters and neither are better players.Perhaps ,someone on this thread that have connections with the LYNX would contact and make that suggestion.She can shoot,rebound and make free throws. Think McCarville ,but at least 5 inches taller. Just a thought.

Independant of whether Natalie could effectively play in the WNBA, I find the comparison of Bulter to McCarville remarkable. Hard to think of 2 more different Post players


In her Lynx stint.

McCarville was one of the best passers out of the center position ever, Natalie is not.
McCarville had range out to 3pt, Natalie does not.

On the other side, I would guess Natalie has the rebounding advantage but not that much.

 

[Undercovervol]

No offense, but Russell is better than Butler. Russell is overrated, yes, but still better than Butler.

 

[ucbart]

Listen, Natalie had a nice senior season at George Mason and she seems like a really bright and lovely woman, but have you watched her play? Like, for real? She just doesn't have the skill set, athleticism, or quickness to play at that level.

 

[JordyG]

Natalie ain't no backup!

Uh, yep she is.

 

[Roger G]

Minnesota need a back up for Fowles, Natalie would be ideal .Sword and Mercedes are on rosters and neither are better players.Perhaps ,someone on this thread that have connections with the LYNX would contact and make that suggestion.She can shoot,rebound and make free throws. Think McCarville ,but at least 5 inches taller. Just a thought.

I think you are awesome, Willie!

 

[DaddyChoc]

Natalie ain't no backup!

that's why she left UConn?

 

[Geew1992]

that's why she left UConn?

She left became UConn didn’t have the masters prgram she was looking for

 

[oldude]

She left became UConn didn’t have the masters prgram she was looking for

Yes, but also imo because she understood that her PT would be limited with Z eligible to play.

 

[CL82]

Uh, yep she is.

No she probably isn't. That's why no team has moved on her.

Love Nat though and wish her the best.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

that's why she left UConn?

Call it oxygen deprivation or senillity. I saw Natalie and thought BigMommaStef!

 

[pinotbear]

Call it oxygen deprivation or senillity. I saw Natalie and thought BigMommaStef!

 

[Willie E.Gold]

Being cut does not mean you can't play.How many times were Quigley cut? Just a though, I was one of the few that believed Tiffany and KML were capable of playing in the League.Time will tell ,but Natalie still might surprise some of us. Took Allie 5 years .Just for fun ,who would you take; Natalie, Mercedes or Sword?

 

[SVCBeercats]

Call it oxygen deprivation or senillity. I saw Natalie and thought BigMommaStef!

Bad eyes? Cataracts? You do realize from this point forward no one can take seriously any thing you write? Seriously Stef?!

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Bad eyes? Cataracts? You do realize from this point forward no one can take seriously any thing you write? Seriously Stef?!

Yeah. My only excuse is it's been a hard week.

 

[Monte]

She left became UConn didn’t have the masters prgram she was looking for

Well, at least she had a unique reason to transfer.

 

[bballnut90]

Being cut does not mean you can't play.How many times were Quigley cut? Just a though, I was one of the few that believed Tiffany and KML were capable of playing in the League.Time will tell ,but Natalie still might surprise some of us. Took Allie 5 years .Just for fun ,who would you take; Natalie, Mercedes or Sword?

Russell, hands down.

Butler is not a WNBA caliber player. She never was able to become a force at UCONN when they badly needed height, and then she went on to dominate a very weak conferenceher senior year which led to gaudy numbers. She had a great collegiate career where she got the best of both worlds, playing on championship teams and also finding individual success at lesser programs. She's not a WNBA caliber player though. Doesn't have the quickness, athleticism, skill or ability.

I think she'll have a productive career overseas, and who knows, she could prove me wrong and find a career in the W like Quigley/Latoya Sanders(Pringle)/Erlana Larkins were able to do even after they struggled to find footing. She has an uphill battle though--currently we have a crop of young talented posts who are struggling to make an impact in the league (Russell, Mavunga, Vadeeva, Gulich, Billings, etc) and all of them bring more to the table than Butler. I'm guessing a couple of those players will not be in the league next year either with another strong rookie class on the horizon.

 

[shizam]

Willie......Butler was drafted by the wings in the 3rd round in the latest WNBA draft. They looked at her in drills, intra squad and preseason games over the next 24 days. She was subsequently waived May 10, no other team picked her up. BTW, not a single player drafted in the 3rd round in this draft is in the league as of today. They were ALL waived.

If the Wings or any other franchise felt she could add value to their team, or could help them win games, they would have claimed her, like the Las Vegas Aces claimed Lindsey Allen after she was waived by the New York Liberty, or the Indiana Fever recently claimed Cappie Pondexter after being waived by the LA Sparks. Every team knows she's unsigned and available.

You are correct though Teana Muldrow (W.Virg) drafted in 3rd round and made the Storm for 5 games and was cut and picked up by Wings for 5 games and cut again very recently

 

[shizam]

Being cut does not mean you can't play.How many times were Quigley cut? Just a though, I was one of the few that believed Tiffany and KML were capable of playing in the League.Time will tell ,but Natalie still might surprise some of us. Took Allie 5 years .Just for fun ,who would you take; Natalie, Mercedes or Sword?

I was wrong on Tiffany Hayes (first year I’ve liked Hayes a lot) and kind of wrong on KML. Least KML is finally contributing which is good to see. Previously she was taking up space for 3 long years. Her lack of development those 3 years hurt the Storm. Reason it’s an issue is she was taken so high. Rookies are contributing this year. No waiting 4 yrs to help your team.
Between Sword Russell and Butler, Sword if it was just for this year. I don’t think any of them belong in the league but there is a shortage for good back up centers. My favorite back up is Kelsey Bone. She gets after it.

 

[Carnac]

You are correct though Teana Muldrow (W.Virg) drafted in 3rd round and made the Storm for 5 games and was cut and picked up by Wings for 5 games and cut again very recently

You are correct. I remember Muldrow getting into a game for the Wings in the waning minutes a week or so ago. I checked each player drafted in the 3rd round just moments before I posted my comment. So as of the time stamp on my post, there were no 3rd round draftees in the league.

 

[Vowelguy]

She left became UConn didn’t have the masters prgram she was looking for

lol

 

[Vowelguy]

If Butler is a W-quality player then Geno f.ed up beyond belief and blew 2 NCs.

 

[shizam]

If Butler is a W-quality player then Geno f.ed up beyond belief and blew 2 NCs.

Say whatever you want about my mother but don’t knock GENO!

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Russell, hands down.

Butler is not a WNBA caliber player. She never was able to become a force at UCONN when they badly needed height, and then she went on to dominate a very weak conferenceher senior year which led to gaudy numbers. She had a great collegiate career where she got the best of both worlds, playing on championship teams and also finding individual success at lesser programs. She's not a WNBA caliber player though. Doesn't have the quickness, athleticism, skill or ability.

I think she'll have a productive career overseas, and who knows, she could prove me wrong and find a career in the W like Quigley/Latoya Sanders(Pringle)/Erlana Larkins were able to do even after they struggled to find footing. She has an uphill battle though--currently we have a crop of young talented posts who are struggling to make an impact in the league (Russell, Mavunga, Vadeeva, Gulich, Billings, etc) and all of them bring more to the table than Butler. I'm guessing a couple of those players will not be in the league next year either with another strong rookie class on the horizon.

"In two regular season games with the Liberty, Russell averaged 2.5 points and 1.5 rebounds in 16.2 minutes a contest." Auspicious debute to be sure. According to her college coach “a point guard trapped in a post player’s body,” in college Russel was always drifting outside. Capable of dominating weaker opponents, with a nice touch, she too was the poster child for "soft." She's playing 5.5 minutes a game with Seattle and contributing 1.2 points a game with .4 OREBS and 1.3 DREBS.

She is not a WNBA center. Maybe she'll come along, but has yet to make a case.

 

[Reypl21]

"In two regular season games with the Liberty, Russell averaged 2.5 points and 1.5 rebounds in 16.2 minutes a contest." Auspicious debute to be sure. According to her college coach “a point guard trapped in a post player’s body,” in college Russel was always drifting outside. Capable of dominating weaker opponents, with a nice touch, she too was the poster child for "soft." She's playing 5.5 minutes a game with Seattle and contributing 1.2 points a game with .4 OREBS and 1.3 DREBS.

She is not a WNBA center. Maybe she'll come along, but has yet to make a case.

It just goes to show the development players go through at Tennessee. Why on earth are girls going there? They are going to leave TN either the same, or even worse. HW is getting recruits based off of the old glamour of TN, but she is a terrible coach. Russell probably was a red overrated coming out of HS, but if she went to an actual program she would have been good.

 

[SVCBeercats]

"Willie E.Gold, post: 2775348, member: 3875"]Just for fun ,who would you take; Natalie, Mercedes or Sword?

A small lineup!

 

[bballnut90]

"In two regular season games with the Liberty, Russell averaged 2.5 points and 1.5 rebounds in 16.2 minutes a contest." Auspicious debute to be sure. According to her college coach “a point guard trapped in a post player’s body,” in college Russel was always drifting outside. Capable of dominating weaker opponents, with a nice touch, she too was the poster child for "soft." She's playing 5.5 minutes a game with Seattle and contributing 1.2 points a game with .4 OREBS and 1.3 DREBS.

She is not a WNBA center. Maybe she'll come along, but has yet to make a case.

Never said she was a WNBA caliber center. She’s a much better prospect than Butler though with her size, frame and ability to finish inside against good opponents. At this point in time, Russell has more upside than either Butler or Swords, so that’s why I’d choose her. I agree that she isn’t a WNBA caliber center right now and has an uphill battle ahead of her.

 

[bballnut90]

It just goes to show the development players go through at Tennessee. Why on earth are girls going there? They are going to leave TN either the same, or even worse. HW is getting recruits based off of the old glamour of TN, but she is a terrible coach. Russell probably was a red overrated coming out of HS, but if she went to an actual program she would have been good.

I made a very long detailed post a couple of months ago detailing how poor of a job Holly has done developing talent at Tennessee. I agree though, why on earth would any top 10 kid want to play for her when the player development and team results are nonexistent? For a coach who has regularly landed top 10 kids the last 5 years, the best pros she’s had are Harrison and Deshields (who only played for 2 years before quitting).

The only saving grace I have for Holly with Russel is that the 2013 class was filled with top 10 players who never developed into the stars they were expected to become. 8 of the 10 were Russell, Taya Reimer, Kaela Davis, Deshields, Linnae Harper, Jannah Tucker, Rebecca Greenwell and Oderah Chidom. None of those players became stars in college. More of that probably has to do with coaching though than player talent, but it was either a poorly scouted class since there were several standouts who were ranked lower (Nina Davis, Lexie Brown, Kelsey Plum, Lindsey Allen, among others), or the top 10 players picked schools where they didn’t reach their potential.