Washington Wizards NBA Draft: 3 Baylor players the Wizards could draft
By Ethan Smith
Jared Butler; Guard; Junior
After three seasons, Jared Butler has amassed quite the resume at Baylor. After his freshman season, he was named to the Big-12 All-freshman team. This season, he was named to the Big-12 All-Defense team, adding that to his second All Big-12 team selection. As a junior, Butler averaged 16.6 points (team-high), 3.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 2.0 steals (team-high) per game.
During each of his three seasons, Butler’s two-point and three-point field goal percentages improved each season. He finished his junior season averaging 52.7 and 41.5 percent from those ranges, respectively. Butler’s scoring is enticing, but it’s his defense that should be most attractive to the Wizards.
Every position on the roster could use a defensive upgrade. Cassius Winston hasn’t made much of an impact during his rookie season, and both Raul Neto and Ish Smith will be unrestricted free agents this offseason. The Wizards could do much worse than a sound defensive point guard with some scoring upside to back up Westbrook for the next season or two.
Butler currently projects to be a mid to late first-round pick, so the Wizard would either need truly rotten lottery luck, or they get crazy enough (and lucky enough) to make the playoffs. Otherwise, they’re picking too early for Butler. But if they do the improbable over the final 20-some games and sink their lottery odds, Butler is a name to keep an eye on.