His greatest present came almost a month early, but Caron Butler will officially celebrate his 30th birthday Saturday.
Nothing he gets will top the trade to the Mavericks.
"It has been an intense month with the change in teams and then getting comfortable here in Dallas, but to have won 13 straight games and be playing so well as a team is really exciting," Butler said. "At the beginning of the season I believed I would have a shot at the title. While I might not be with the same team, I still have that same goal in mind. My 30th birthday wish is to make that championship run and win it all this year."
Butler has meshed well, as have his other Washington transplants, Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson.
"I've celebrated my last four birthdays in Washington, DC, but now I am here in Dallas and I want to enjoy my 30th with a win at home this Saturday night against the Knicks,'' he said.
Butler not only will hit 30 today, but his wife also is pregnant with the couple's second child.
"I know how fortunate I am," he said. "Dallas is starting to feel a lot like home. The fans have embraced me, and I want to continue to show them the type of player I am, and the contributions I can make to the team."
--Eddie Sefko
(mavsblog.dallasnews.com)The Spurs play on the road tonight against the Minnesota Timberwolves at 7 p.m.
Join Jeff McDonald and Mike Monroe for a live game chat beginning at 6:30 p.m.
San Antonio Spurs vs. Minnesota Timberwolves game chat
(Courtside with the Spurs)The Ticket's Craig "Junior" Miller, one of the Gentle Musers on The Dunham and Miller Show mornings from 6-10 a.m. on KTCK-AM 1310 in Dallas, answered Mavericks questions in a chat on Friday.
On whether the older Mavericks players can make it into June:
Sometimes age (and wisdom) is a good thing, but the Mavs are the oldest team in the league by a full year (average age-wise). They are playing on the great adrenaline rush provided by the trade, but I expect the legs to catch up to the minds soon. Having said that, I like this Mavs team more than any recent vintage Mavs team. It looks like a real basketball squad, not as many gimmicks as past teams.
On if Uwe Blab is in his Mavericks' all-time top 10 centers list:
Uwe was great, no doubt. But the Mavs have been so loaded at the center position over the years that it's tough to put him in the top 10. He would get edged out by Donald Hodge on my list.
On if the Spurs, his favorite team, are done:
I'm afraid they are done. They remind me of the Patriots, former champs just trying to hang on. They are getting old, they are getting injured, and they don't have a reliable long body next to Duncan (like Robinson or Horry) to take some of the pressure off of him. Jefferson has been a huge bust. Plus, their schedule down the stretch is the toughest in the NBA.
On if he would see a Mavericks regular-season game at Cowboys Stadium:
I went to the All-Star game, and it was quite a spectacle, and that's my measuring stick for hoops at the Death Star. So, I don't know if any regular season game could match that experience. If they want to do that once a year, maybe when LeBron comes to town, that might be cool. Any more than once a year might be a beating.

Here's what The Onion says Stan Van Gundy provides his team as road-trip reading material
What does Stan Van Gundy provide his team as reading material on road trips?
The Onion, America’s (self-proclaimed) Finest News Source, gives us their … umm… “inside scoop.”
ORLANDO, FL—Continuing a tradition that stretches back to his early years with the Miami Heat, Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy routinely presents his players with classic barbecue cookbooks to inspire them and provide insights during road trips.
During the team’s long West Coast swing in December, Dwight Howard was given Barbecue America: A Pilgrimage In Search Of America’s Best Barbecue, while Vince Carter was seen reading Cheryl Jamison’s 400-page tome Sublime Smoke: Bold New Flavors Inspired By The Old Art Of Barbecue. And in a clear attempt to get J.J. Redick to tap into the success of his Duke-playing days, Van Gundy gave the Magic guard Paul Kirk’s Championship Barbecue Sauces: 175 Make-Your-Own Sauces, Marinades, Dry Rubs, Wet Rubs, Mops, And Salsas.
But for their upcoming three-game sojourn away from the friendly confines of Amway Arena, the spiritual Van Gundy—known throughout the league as a barbecue pit master—bucked the tradition of handing out personalized volumes and made the unorthodox choice of giving all his players the same book to read: Ray Lampe’s Dr. BBQ’s Big-Time Barbecue Cookbook.
I’m a big fan of The Onion. Personally, though, I think the headline and photo are where the funny stops in this link. What do you think? Funny?
MIAMI -- The Bulls announced that Derrick Rose won't play tonight against the Miami Heat because of a sprained left wrist.
However, the news stemming from the MRI taken of the wrist this morning was overwhelmingly positive. The exam confirmed a sprain with no fracture or ligament damage.
Rose is listed as day-to-day and it is hoped he'll be ready to play for the Bulls' next game Tuesday at Memphis.
This is the third significant injury of the season for Rose, but tonight will be the first game he'll miss.