NBA Draft: This NCAA champion could be a trade-up target for Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons: Jared Butler is a superb three-point shooter with a lot of tools
In his first two seasons at Baylor, Butler shot 36.7 percent from three-point range. The guard averaged 12.9 points, 2.9 assists, and 1.3 steals per contest.
Jumping to his third year with the team, Butler improved his production. The 20-year-old averaged 16.7 points, 4.8 assists, and two steals through 30 games in the 2020-21 season. He also significantly improved his long-range shooting as he shot 41.6 percent from beyond the arc last season. That is the kind of thing NBA scouts like.
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Butler has the ability to be a solid shooter off pull-ups and in catch-and-shoot opportunities. The 6-3 guard could be best suited to play point guard. He has shown good off-ball movement on offense during his collegiate career.
While Butler will be best utilized, the way the Pistons roster is constructed, in an off-ball role, he has shown to have solid handles which allow him to beat defenders and attack the rim.
With the Pistons projected point guards next season in Cunningham and Killian Hayes both standing at 6-8 and 6-5 respectively, Butler’s undersized frame will not be as concerning on the defensive end. Pairing him with either of the two bigger guards will allow Butler to match up against the smallest player on opposing teams.
On the defensive end, Butler has shown promise as a good defender at the next level.
In his final year at Baylor, the junior’s defensive numbers ranked high in the Big 12 Conference. In the conference, Butler ranked first in defensive win shares with 1.9, fifth in defensive rating with a rating of 93.7 and fourth in defensive plus/minus at 4.1.
Butler was not only a solid defender in college, his two steals per game show he has a knack for forcing turnovers.
Butler has the ability to become one of the league’s better three-and-D players … and more.
The guard’s combination of good ball-handling and off-ball movement would make him a very versatile player in Detroit’s rotation. Coach Dwane Casey likes versatility in his guards.
He is a good enough playmaker to run the point guard spot if Cunningham and Hayes are both on the bench. But, being a catch-and-shoot threat makes him the perfect backcourt pairing for the two young guards as well.
While Butler has great potential to be a key piece of the Pistons’ lineups, he is not perfect.