Clippers reach out to free agent Caron Butler

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The Clippers, in the market for a small forward, have reached out to free agent Caron Butler, a person with knowledge of the situation said Wednesday night.

Butler played in only 29 games last season during the Dallas Mavericks’ championship run because of a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee that required surgery. Those close to Butler said the 32-year-old, 6-foot-7 small forward is healthy.

He averaged 15 points on 45% shooting, including 43.1% from three-point range, last season.

Butler has averaged 16.6 points on 44.1% shooting (31.9% from three-point range) over his nine-year career.

Butler made $10.5 million last season in the final year of his deal.

Neil Olshey, the Clippers’ vice president of basketball operations, would not comment on free agents Wednesday. But Olshey did say small forward is a position at which the Clippers need to improve.

‘I think when you look at things within a vacuum, I think that that’s the position that we have the biggest question mark at,’ Olshey said.

The Clippers also contacted free-agent small forward Tayshaun Prince of the Detroit Pistons.

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-- Broderick Turner