Official Jared Butler Thread

[nate33]

Monumental Sports has a nice piece on Jared Butler's recent success with the Wizards. It also references the job Tyus Jones is doing as a mentor:

Butler, still just 23 in his third NBA season on his third team (after stops in Utah and Oklahoma City and their G League counterparts), has seen an uptick in his role in Washington. He played just 12 total minutes in Washington's first 15 games of the regular season. More recently, that number has ballooned to double-digit minutes in each of the Wizards' last four tilts.

Though his scoring numbers don't necessarily pop out – 4.1 points per game off 8.6 minutes on average across the season – he's done well with the time he's been given. He put up 12 points off 71% shooting with four assists vs. Philadelphia on Monday, then followed it up with an eight-point outing with four assists vs. New Orleans on Wednesday.

“He's done a much better job, and just seeing him progress from September when he first came in until where he is now, with us and/or with the Go-Go is just being more of a point guard,” Unseld Jr. said of Butler on Thursday. “Trying to follow that mold that Tyus [Jones] has been a great example for him.”

Tyus Jones' mentorship hasn't gone unnoticed by the team, nor is it the veteran's first time taking a younger teammate under his wing. He did it with Ja Morant in Memphis, helping him blossom into an All-NBA player and All-Star.

His support of Butler has helped the Baylor alum grow his own game and, almost more importantly, limit mistakes. Unseld notes that Butler's most noticeable improvement has been his progression into a quarterback of the offense, “defending at a high level,” and making the right choices with the ball. Offensively, shades of Jones' game are visible in his protege.

[NatP4]

I know it’s been mostly garbage time minutes, but Butler has been really impressive. I wanna see him in a much larger role after we trade Tyus.

19.2 points 7.7 assists 3.1 rebounds 2.4 steals 63% TS per 36.

[payitforward]

Me too!

In his last 4 games, Butler has played a total of 40 minutes. He's produced 30 points on 16 shots & 6 FTAs for a TS% of... .80.5% !!!

He's had 9 assists, committed 3 fouls, & had 3 steals plus the same number of turnovers.

That's uh... pretty good! In fact, it's fantastic.

[popper]

Me too!

In his last 4 games, Butler has played a total of 40 minutes. He's produced 30 points on 16 shots & 6 FTAs for a TS% of... .80.5% !!!

He's had 9 assists, committed 3 fouls, & had 3 steals plus the same number of turnovers.

That's uh... pretty good! In fact, it's fantastic.

Now that he's starting to establish himself as an inexpensive asset to the Wizards, do you or anyone else know if we have retention rights next year or, can he just sign with another team?

[nate33]

Read on Twitter

[payitforward]

Definitely the best zero-cost move Will has made so far. One of the best such that any FO has made this season. Sure looks like this kid is a player!

[NatP4]

Butler&Sheppard 2024 backcourt.

[payitforward]

I'm just warming up this thread --

Ok, thread, be ready for some action!

[penbeast0]

Not on roster for Orlando. Injury or just not showing anything in practice?

I don't guarantee he's an NBA player but his numbers in G League and limited NBA minutes this year make me want to see enough of him to make a decision. But with Poole acting as PG off the bench, he's disappeared again except for the one game Poole missed.

[nate33]

Read on Twitter

I didn't watch the game, but these highlights are really impressive. Most of those assists weren't just simple kick-out passes. They were high degree of difficulty passes made to a roll man or the weakside corner.

[DCZards]

I didn't watch the game, but these highlights are really impressive. Most of those assists weren't just simple kick-out passes. They were high degree of difficulty passes made to a roll man or the weakside corner.

I particularly liked the last assist to Champagnie for the open 3. It was the kind of wide open shot that the Zards weren’t getting on the previous possessions where Poole was the lead ball handler.

Nothing like having a TRUE point guard running the offense. I like Poole’s recent play but he’s a SG with limited court vision.

[nate33]

I didn't watch the game, but these highlights are really impressive. Most of those assists weren't just simple kick-out passes. They were high degree of difficulty passes made to a roll man or the weakside corner.

I particularly liked the last assist to Champagnie for the open 3. It was the kind of wide open shot that the Zards weren’t getting on the previous possessions where Poole was the lead ball handler.

Nothing like having a TRUE point guard running the offense. I like Poole’s recent play but he’s a SG with limited court vision.

I like the one at the :45 second mark. Butler is pushing the ball up in semi-transition and recognizes that the shorthanded defense has one defender marking both Kispert behind the arc on the wing and Davis in the corner. Butler motions to Kispert, telling him to cut through the lane. Kispert takes the defender with him on the cut leaving Davis wide open at the corner with nobody on him. Butler then makes the simple pass for the wide-open corner three. It wasn't the pass that was impressive, but the understanding of how to create the advantage.

[AFM]

Jared "John Wall Jr" Butler