With the 2021 NBA Draft upcoming; excitement and anticipation amongst Detroit Pistons fans is at its highest in, well, over a decade. Come 8 pm on that July 29th date, the Pistons will officially be on the clock.
Officially is the keyword here.
Pistons GM Troy Weaver and the front office have unofficially been on the clock since the franchise was awarded in the draft lottery on June 22 the number one selection. Oklahoma State point guard Cade Cunningham has been the projected pick for Detroit since they moment they got the No.1 pick for the first time since 1970.
With each passing day, that projection begins to become more and more substantial. Trade rumors have begun to die down, and reports around the team indicate Cunningham will be the pick for Detroit at number one.
Cunningham may be slated to go first to Detroit, but he may not be the only first-round selection the Pistons make. Last year, the Pistons swung trades to get two additional first-round selections they did not have when the draft started.
There has been speculation that the Pistons could look to trade a combination of their three second-round picks to move back up into the late first round. A move like this, would likely only come if Weaver sees a prospect he really covets falling in the draft.
That prospect could very well be Baylor guard Jared Butler.
I recently sat down with The Athletic‘s James Edwards III for a pre-draft Q and A. In our conversation, Edwards III indicated that Butler is a potential player the Pistons could trade back into the first round to get.
"“He’s a guy that could go late first depending on how scared teams are with the medical stuff, or how unafraid they are. Afraid or unafraid, that could waver where he falls. I think that’s another guy who could be of interest.” –James Edwards III on Jared Butler"
During the NBA Draft combine in Chicago, Butler was barred from on-court activities. He was referred to the NBA’s Fitness to Play Panel due to the league’s concerns over his health. Ultimately, Butler was cleared to play, but some teams may be wary of the young guard heading into draft night.
The 6-foot-3, 195-pound guard was good enough to help lead Baylor to the NCAA championship. That helps a player draw NBA team to give him a look.
If hesitation among other GMs causes Butler to fall into the mid to late 20s of the draft, Weaver and the Pistons front office could look to trade up and grab him.
Weaver and the Pistons will have to sort out their own concerns over the 20-year-old’s health. If they decide Butler is worth the gamble, he would make a great addition to Detroit’s young core.
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.
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.
Detroit Pistons: Jared Butler does have some limitations both ends of the court
Jared Butler is not the most athletically gifted guard in this year’s draft class. In fact, he is not a very athletic guard at all. Of course, that is one of the reasons he would be available late in the first round.
This lack of athleticism could make it difficult for Butler to beat defenders off the dribble at the next level. While the guard has excellent handles, his lack of explosiveness off the dribble would make it harder for him to get by defenders at the NBA level. Additionally, his smaller stature combined with his lack of athleticism could make it difficult for him to finish at the rim against bigger defenders.
Butler would still be well utilized coming off screens and spotting up from three, but his lack of athleticism limits the other areas he can attack on the offensive end.
On the defensive end of the court, Butler’s undersized frame might limit how useful he is as a defender.
Undersized guards can still be great defenders. Bruce Brown stands at 6-4 and is one of the best defenders on the Brooklyn Nets as well as during his time with the Pistons. Brown has made a name for himself in the NBA as one of the league’s top on-ball defenders. But what separates Brown from Butler is strength and length.
Brown was at times playing the center position for the Nets during the 2020-21 season. The former Piston has a 6-9 wingspan and the strength necessary to hold his own against larger players.
Butler has a 6-4 wingspan and needs to put on more muscle with just a 195-pound frame. Butler lacks the length necessary to be a defender who can be effective when forced to switch on screens and in mismatches.
The 20-year-old will be able to match up well against other guards around the league who are of similar height but, if he is switched onto a small forward or a big, he will have a very hard time trying to hold his own, especially in post-up situations. But his new friend Cade might be able to help out.
Detroit Pistons: Jared Butler could be a great sharpshooter off the bench
Despite Jared Butler’s lack of size and athleticism posing potential limitations in his game, the Baylor prospect has the upside to be a very good player in the NBA.
It is yet to be seen just how much his lack of size and speed will actually affect Butler’s play at the NBA level. He very well could overcome these limitations. Even if he does not reach his ceiling, Butler has a very high floor.
For Detroit, Butler would be best utilized off the bench in his rookie year.
The rookie would make a great off-ball shooter paired with Cunningham or Hayes. Butler’s catch-and-shoot abilities make him a great option running off screens and on kick-outs. He is also a willing passer, who will keep the ball moving.
Detroit was in the bottom half of the league in three-point shooting last season. The addition of Butler to the lineup would aid in improving the team’s long-range scoring.
On defense, Butler would match up well with the opposing team’s small guards. His aggressive approach to forcing turnovers could cause him to get into foul trouble early on in his career, but as he adapts and develops, he could one day be a very pesky on-ball defender.
In conclusion, Butler brings a lot of abilities that Detroit needs. He can shoot the three-ball, defend, and adds ball movement to a team that could become stagnant offensively.
Come draft night, if Butler begins to fall to the mid to late 20s, he would be a guy Pistons GM Troy Weaver could look to trade up for. Heck, you know the guy is a winner.