The Utah Jazz wisely used their 40th pick in this year’s NBA draft for Jared Butler and so far, he’s been impressive — one of the key surprises in the early days of the 2021 training camp for Utah specifically in the preseason. Butler is averaging 19 points per game in the past two tune up games for the Jazz.

Besides his stats, Butler has shown flashes of his three point ball. He went 3/7 from deep and was also 9/18 from the field. The best part about his game is his pace and just ability to control the game for the Jazz. Yes, it’s only preseason but this is certainly already a good sign for Butler, who will definitely be fighting for a rotation spot in the Jazz’s rotation.

Last August, I wrote about why Butler was a steal for the Jazz. He was the leading scorer on his championship team in college where he shot 41.6% from three and 78% from the free-throw line (he got to the line often). He averaged 16.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game in his last year, which was higher than his teammate Davion Mitchell, who went 7th in this year’s draft. It was surprising to see Butler slide down all the way to the 40th pick but hey, at least he now finds himself in a winning environment. 

Moreover, Jazz fans should be delighted at how Butler has shot the ball so far in the preseason. He’s doing this with step-back threes and at his own will. His confidence and maturity has already been apparent. His scoring ability will be able to fit perfectly under Quin Snyder’s system, where the load is distributed from in every position. 

RECOMMENDED (Article Continues Below)
Jared Butler, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

David Yapkowitz ·

Thunder

Ben Cooper ·

James Kay ·

What’s even more exciting for Butler is that his defense was quite solid in his collegiate years. He had a 3.7% steal percentage (highest of any prospect in this year’s draft) and 1.3% block percentage in his last season. He has the potential to be a two-way player who can even substitute for Donavan Mitchell or Jordan Clarkson who want time off. Butler has to earn his minutes first but so far, he’s doing just that in the preseason. 

The next step for Butler is to show some of his playmaking and off-ball capabilities. He did just that in Baylor and must do that now if he wants to earn the trust of the Jazz’s coaching staff. Utah has a liking of running pick and rolls which Butler can thrive in. He’s a reliable passer in the pick and roll and someone who can find the roller in the right spot. Aside from his fit system wise, Butler has the ability to score in different ways as well, specifically through floaters, jumpers, and finishing at the rim. His offensive skillset is already good enough for a rookie. 

If Butler manages to work on his game and really make a case for more quality minutes, this could be good for his development and reputation. He may not see a ton of minutes right away but from what it seems like, the Baylor product has already been impressive for Utah.