rodney white (remember him?)

[LarryD]

Butler’s competition for the small forward job is lacking|
By Ira Winderman
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
(KRT)
FORT LAUDERDALE — A year ago, as was the case with Caron Butler this year, University of Charlotte forward Rodney White fell a bit further than expected in the NBA Draft, going at No. 9 to the Pistons, after overtures from teams at the top of the order.
From the moment he was selected, White, as is the case with Butler and the Heat, was expected to be his team’s starting small forward.
But that’s where the similarities might end. White not only never started a game last season for the Pistons, he only appeared in 16 for a total of 129 minutes.
The difference is one of talent — and not necessarily that of the draft picks themselves.
Unlike the Heat, which has a glaring void at small forward, Detroit at least offered competition for White. Ultimately, that competition proved to be too much.
‘‘I think there’s certain guys with talent that warrant the hype. And I think Caron Butler is one of the guys that warrants that,’’ Pistons General Manager Joe Dumars said of the Heat’s No. 10 pick in last month’s draft. ‘‘But that’s not to say it should be easy for you to walk in as a talented player out of college and step in and take a position.
‘‘You’ve got to fight for it.’’
That’s what differentiates what White faced with the Pistons last year compared to what Butler faces this year.
On the current Heat roster, LaPhonso Ellis stands as the only option to contend with Butler for the starting role at small forward.
‘‘What Rodney White found himself in last year, was that he had to fight a Michael Curry, who will flat out fight you every day,’’ Dumars said during a break at last week’s Orlando Summer Pro League, where White was attempting to improve his standing with the Pistons. ‘‘And when Michael Curry went and sat down, Rodney had to fight Corliss Williamson. It was a learning experience for him. It was school in session every day for him last year.’’
Curry started 75 games for the Pistons, Williamson seven. Even with a No. 9 lottery pick on the roster, Dumars said winning was the priority.
‘‘That’s a situation where maybe had he gone with a team without individuals out there, maybe he would have gotten thrown out there and gotten minutes right away,’’ Dumars said. ‘‘But it was just such a fight for him every day — until we just didn’t have time. We didn’t have time to wait.’’
If for no other reason, that should be incentive enough for the Heat to create competition for Butler at small forward. Last season’s No. 9 pick wasn’t good enough to start for a playoff contender; there is no guarantee this year’s No. 10 will be.
As dedicated as Butler is to earning such status, it should not summarily be extended. Of last year’s lottery picks, only New Jersey’s Richard Jefferson contributed to a playoff push, and that was in a reserve role.
The Pistons gave White every chance to succeed last season, but also had insurance in reserve. The Heat cannot say the same at this stage of the offseason when it comes to a safety net for Butler.

 

[gutter]

I knew he wasn't ready. Don't believe the hype. Could of been a really great year as opposed to a great year.

 

[magnus]

yep...should have stayed in. Charlotte definately could have used him, and he could have really used them. On a team perpetually known for hustle D, he's playing a position in the NBA where you really need to be a diverse, hustling defensive player. And he's not.

 

[NormanNiner]

Yeah, I would have loved to have had him last year. I also thought he should have one more year under his belt. But, he's still very young, and he will improve and become a solid player. Baron Davis didn't play much his rookie year either and look how he's doing. If anything, last season taught Rodney a lot about the pro game and he will be much better prepared going forward.

 

[SincereNCinMD]

No way they can compare this kid to Caron Butler. Butler has a better all around game AND he plays defense. Laphonso Ellis will spend half the season in street clothes. My pick for rookie of the year.

 

[WYDD]

follow up.

For Pistons forward Rodney White, last week’s Orlando summer league was more than just a chance to stay in shape. It was a chance to show NBA fans he's still alive.

"Last year I didn’t really get a shot," says White, the ninth overall pick in last year’s NBA draft. "This is a chance to show what I can do."

Mission accomplished.

White, a 6’9" small forward, was one of the stars at last week’s six-team Orlando tournament. He scored in double figures in four of his team’s five games, including a 21-point effort in a win over the Hornets.

"He played well," Pistons coach Rick Carlisle says. "He has an opportunity if he keeps developing and working to be a factor in our rotation next season."

White is one of a handful of NBA players in the spotlight as the league holds its annual summer league season. He joins several top rookies –- including Jay Williams, Mike Dunleavy Jr. and Drew Gooden -– in hoping to use the summer circuit as a springboard to regular-season success. The NBA has four official leagues, in Orlando, Boston, Los Angeles and Salt Lake City.

Summer league games might look like glorified pick-up runs, with rookies and free agent wannabes playing before sparse crowds in college gyms. But for second-year players like White and Wizards forward Kwame Brown -– the No. 1 overall pick who will be playing in the Boston league beginning July 15 –- the games are crucial. After a year spent watching from the bench, it’s their time to show what they’ve learned.

"For guys like [White] and Brown and [Cavaliers center Sagana] Diop, this is a big summer," Sonics scout Steve Rosenberry says. "These kids had such limited time in their first year. It’s a chance for them to play in games. It’s their development time. They’ve got to play well, because if you can’t dominate [in summer leagues], then there’s going to be some questions."

White knows this better than anyone. Hailed on draft night as a Glenn Robinson-type scorer who might be able to step in and contribute immediately, he wound up seeing action in just 16 games.

Opting for more experienced players, Carlisle turned to veterans Michael Curry and Corliss Williamson as the Pistons surprised the NBA by winning the Central Division title.

"Coach went with the older guys and they continued to win," says White, who jumped to the NBA after just one year at the University of Charlotte. "It was good. Our team did a good job."

Still, White admits it wasn’t easy watching other high-profile rookies like Tyson Chandler, Pau Gasol, Eddy Curry and Jason Richardson get heavy playing time. At one point he even thought he grew bald patches on his head from worrying. "It was tough because I knew I was more talented than they were, but they were out on the court doing their thing and I was watching," White says.

White hopes he has earned more time with his improved showing this summer. He says he intends to spend the rest of the summer in Detroit, working on extending his shooting range and beefing up his body. His goal, he says, is to be in the starting lineup on opening night.

While the Pistons still have a logjam at the small forward spot, with Curry, Williamson and Cliff Robinson all likely to see time there, Carlisle believes White can contribute. "His recognition gets better every time he plays," he says. "He’s a uniquely talented guy because he can get places on the the court with his size at 6-9, and not many guys can do that."

For the Pistons, a productive White could be a huge asset. As Detroit guard Jerry Stackhouse pointed out after last year’s playoffs, even a modest contribution of 6-8 points and solid defense from their second-year pro would be a major boost. Then again, after last season, anything would be an improvement.