Wednesday was a busy day for the Phoenix Suns as they claimed Jordan Goodwin off of waivers and then signed Jared Butler to a contract just a few hours later. So who is Jared Butler? Let’s dive into it.
Jared Butler
Guard, 6’3”, 195 pounds, 24 years old, 4 years of NBA experience
Jared Butler is a solid young prospect for this team to take a flyer on in the position they are currently slated. In his four years, he has played for four different franchises and is now looking to make an impact in Phoenix.
He was drafted by the New Orleans Pelicans in the 2021 NBA Draft at pick 40, but was traded to the Utah Jazz. He spent one season there before being waived and signing a two-way contract with the Oklahoma City Blue. He did end up playing in some Thunder games at the end of the season, but was waived once again. This led him to sign a two-way contract with the Wizards, and then he inked a multi-year deal, only to be waived for the third time and signed to a two-way contract heading into last season.
For the Wizards, he received some playing time on a two-way contract, similar to the one Collin Gillespie had with the Suns the previous year. By playing so well for them, he earned a trade to the Philadelphia 76ers at the deadline. This was due to the Wizards having a full roster and wanting to give him an opportunity, one he could take advantage of on a team that was in a weird second half of the season.
This past season is where Butler proved in two spots that he could be someone a team could invest in to turn into a rotational guy if all the stars align. This was the perfect developmental spot for him in the first half of a Wizards team with no direction. Since he was not part of their long-term plans, his goal was to stand out and make an impact, which he did.
While being on a two-way deal to start the year, he contributed in 32 games for the Wizards. In those contests, he averaged 6.9 pts and 2.6 assists on 11.3 minutes. His best performance for Washington, ironically, was against the 76ers, where he outplayed the player he was traded for, Reggie Jackson. Butler had 26 points with seven assists, four rebounds, and a steal.
In this game, he proved he could be a solid finisher at the basket, but also someone who could help initiate a secondary unit as a playmaker. He also made 100% of his three-point attempts in this game, proving to be someone who could hit the three if needed.
These performances led to his being traded to the 76ers, as I stated, because they did not want to waive him again and wanted him to get the opportunity he had proven he deserved. Since the Sixers were dealing with an abundance of injuries and were tanking, they were willing to see what Butler could provide.
He played 28 games for the Sixers, starting in 17 of them. This was now Butler’s chance, and he showed out well. He averaged all went up, totaling 11.5 points, 4.9 assists, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in 24.4 minutes per game. Butler scored double-digit points in more than half (15) of these games, which is something to think positively about. His best game with the Sixers was against the Atlanta Hawks, when, late in the season, he dropped 25 points, seven assists, four rebounds, and two steals. In this game, once again, he demonstrated all the great qualities he showed when he played for Philly earlier in the season.
Contract Details
Free agent guard Jared Butler has agreed to a one-year deal with the Phoenix Suns, Mark Bartelstein and Kieran Piller of @PrioritySports tell ESPN. The 2021 second-rounder averaged 9 points in 17 minutes per game over 60 contests for the 76ers and Wizards last season. pic.twitter.com/5RvcgFmOsG
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 23, 2025
Shams Charania announced Butler’s contract by stating it was a one-year deal heading into the season. That being said, many media members in the Suns media space have alluded that it is either non-guaranteed or a training camp deal. This is to allow Goodwin and Butler to compete for the final guard spot in the rotation, where one of them could be waived to maintain flexibility on the trade market, pending any other potential moves down the line.
Suns make the Jared Butler signing officially official. Details not given, but as I reported yesterday, it’s another non-guaranteed deal, and he will compete with Jordan Goodwin for that third PG spot on the roster pic.twitter.com/e4YVMmr4iX
— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) July 24, 2025
Strengths and Weaknesses
Butler, in my opinion, has some different strengths compared to the other guard the Suns signed the other day. As I mentioned in his big games last season, a lot of his success came from driving and scoring at the rim. He seems to be comfortable doing that and does not seem like the guy to smoke those bunnies we saw last season.
He also had a good touch with his floater and seemed to beat guys off the dribble when attacking the lane. This, added with his solid vision and ability to be a playmaker for a secondary unit, makes me feel comfortable. His three-point shot in some games was very streaky, but when it is on, he can be effective from beyond the arc.
On the defensive end, he gives the hustle and energy that the Suns are looking for in this new identity. With him competing for minutes and a role his whole career, I expect him to bring that same hunger and fire in training camp as well. He can be scrappy and net some steals, but compared to Goodwin, that is not his specialty.
Since Butler has been used in situations where there is no solid foundation, the ability to identify some flaws is evident. He is not the most athletic guard, and on the defensive end, he is a decent defender, but not the best. With him competing for a spot, though, this seems evident to the Suns in their evaluations, as they are already scouting him and bringing him aboard.
Final Thoughts
I think the expectations for Butler should not be the highest. I do like him as a player and followed him on the Wizards, so I do see the intrigue, but I am still skeptical. With him coming to compete for a spot and being non-guaranteed, the possibility of him being gone before the season is a real one.
That being said, I think he deserves the opportunity, and with the Suns having no expectations, he should see that shot. I think if he is the tertiary point guard on this team, there is nothing wrong with that. Have him as depth, if injuries occur, he gets burn, and we see what he can be. If he stands out, it was worth taking the flyer; if not, he will be off the roster regardless by the end of the season, even if they choose not to waive him.
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