Caron Butler played just 24 minutes per game on the Los Angeles Clippers last season, and he accepted the role due to the team's success. Now, Butler believes he is ready to play elevated minutes on the Milwaukee Bucks.

"After I got back healthy, I actually wanted to play more," Butler said. "I had to accept the role I was given. I felt I was back to my old self. It's never been hard for me to score. As long as I'm out there, I'll find a way.

"I'm good for whatever is needed. I'm definitely in great shape and I can't wait for the season to start."

Larry Drew said word around the NBA was that Butler returned to 100 percent last season.

"You started seeing that pop in his step again," Drew said.

The Phoenix Suns have agreed to trade Caron Butler to the Milwaukee Bucks for Ish Smith and Slava Kravtsov.

Butler has found appealing the prospect of playing for his home-state team. He was traded from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Suns seven weeks ago and was expected to bring leadership to Phoenix.

Butler, 33, will make $8 million this season on an expriring contract but the Bucks could absorb most of that with $7.5 million of cap space.

It is unclear what the Suns have planned for Smith and Kravtsov.

The Phoenix Suns and Bucks are seriously engaged in trade conversations that would send Caron Butler to Milwaukee, according to a report citing multiple sources.

"Much respect for the organization of the Phx Suns#staytuned," Butler posted on his official Twitter account late Wednesday night.

Butler has reportedly thought about playing for his hometown Bucks and a possible deal could be consummated as soon as Thursday. Exact details of the trade are unknown.

The report cites that Carlos Delfino could miss the entire preseason and even a portion of the regular season.

Butler was traded to the Suns after two seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Larry Sanders feels a new sense of responsibility after signing a four-year, $44 million extension with the Milwaukee Bucks.

"This organization has put so much trust in me as a person, as a player, as a worker, as a leader," Sanders said. "That's definitely the role I want to take.

"It's not a spontaneous thing. We've been working in this direction for a long time. Now, them investing this faith in me is awesome. But it comes with a lot of responsibility and I embrace that.

"I've had my mistakes; I've had my ups and downs. All in all, I keep pushing in a forward direction and it's allowed me to get here today. It's the same direction I want to push this team."

Sanders is working to refine his offensive game.

"Everything on the offensive end, from the midrange shot to driving to the basket and being able to finish around the rim better," Sanders said. "And trying to facilitate more, open up the court a little bit, understand the offense better."

Larry Sanders officially signed a four-year, $44 million extension with the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday.

Sanders will make $3 million next season, but the extension will pay him $11 million per season beginning in 14-15.

"By combining his God-given ability with hard work and determination, Larry has developed into one of the top defensive players in the league," John Hammond said. "He is a very important part of what we are doing in Milwaukee, and we're excited to announce his contract extension."

The Milwaukee Bucks are nearing a four-year, $44 million extension with Larry Sanders.

Sanders will have bonuses that could push the total value to the $48 million range.

Larry Drew has no doubt that Brandon Knight can produce as a point guard in the NBA.

Knight played significant minutes at shooting guard last season for the Pistons.

"I don't know where this, 'Is he a point guard, is he a shooting guard?' came from," Drew said. "He's always, in my eyes, been a point guard. (He's) a point guard that has the ability to score, and that's a big, big luxury. At 21 years old he's played a lot of games already in the NBA."

Drew sees plenty of potential in Knight.

"What he brings to the table is what a coach looks for at that position, the speed, the quickness," Drew said. "The ability to make shots, the ability to get to the lane. The ability to make other people better.

"It's going to be my job, it's going to be my responsibility to elevate his game and to continue to teach him. Hopefully he'll continue to grow."

The Milwaukee Bucks have hired Jim Cleamons as an assistant coach on the staff of Larry Drew.

Cleamons was a longtime assistant for Phil Jackson with both the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers.

Cleamons also has been a head coach with the Dallas Mavericks in the nineties.

The Milwaukee Bucks improved their cap situation this offseason though it wasn't intentional.

The Bucks' $32 million offer sheet to Jeff Teague was matched by the Atlanta Hawks and then they dealt Brandon Jennings to the Detroit Pistons in a sign-and-trade for Brandon Knight, who remains on his rookie contract.

The Bucks are approximately $7 million under the NBA's salary cap.

"It wasn't a goal," Hammond said. "The process just kind of evolved. It wasn't a goal to be sitting here at this date and be having this kind of (salary) room.

"We do like the young pieces on our roster. The three main points for us that we've talked about are No. 1, our financial flexibility. No. 2, the youth of this team. Can the youth develop the way we think they can? I think it's realistic to say yes.

"And No. 3 is the veteran players we brought in, those guys providing mentorship and helping us on the floor, helping us win games."

Larry Sanders is closing in on a contract extension with the Milwaukee Bucks, according to sources.

Both sides are in advanced discussions on a deal that is expected to pay Sanders in excess of $10 million per season.

Sanders was the second-best shot blocker last season and established himself as one of the best defenders in the NBA.

Sanders participated on the U.S. Select team last month.