NY Knicks: Making the case for and against Jared Butler
By Mark Wessol
Here’s why the NY Knicks should draft Jared Butler
2021 was quite the year for Jared Butler — NCAA Champion, Final Four Most Outstanding Player, Consensus first-team All American, First Team All-Big 12, and Big 12 All-Defensive Team.
AKA Butler was a stud this past college basketball season and the Knicks should 110% be looking his way on draft night.
He averaged 16.7 points, 4.8 assists, and 3.3 rebounds per contest last season.
A pure shooter from deep too, 41.6% to be exact, and don’t forget he is a terrific defender as well.
A guard who can knock down the three and a lockdown defender?
Tom Thibodeau, you hear that? Sounds like a player you salivate over.
In a pre-draft interview, Butler was comparing his game to the likes of Kyle Lowry and Jrue Holiday because he can contribute whether the ball is in his hands or not.
He also mentioned how his experience will help him in the NBA, “Winning a national championship helps. I know how to win and be in big moments.”
Whenever anyone is considering a prospect to be in New York, it is extremely comforting hearing them say they are ready for the “big moments”.
While Butler can virtually do anything you ask of him, the most intriguing part of his game in my opinion is his ability to play off the ball.
When looking at the Knicks’ core pieces right now like Julius Randle and RJ Barrett they both need the ball in their hands, so Butler being able to compliment them would be huge.
There is no exact answer on where Jared Butler will fall in the 2021 NBA Draft, but the Knicks are certainly in a position to either trade up for him or take him with one of their picks already in place.