Report: Former Jazz Guard Jared Butler Signs With Thunder
Mar 2, 2023, 12:20 PM
Utah Jazz guard Jared Butler drives against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins during a Summer League game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, July 5, 2022. (Spenser Heaps, Deseret News)
(Spenser Heaps, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY – Former Utah Jazz guard Jared Butler is reportedly signing a two-way deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski broke the news of the signing on Twitter.
“Oklahoma City is signing guard Jared Butler to a two-way deal, his agent Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports tells ESPN,” Wojnarowski tweeted.
Oklahoma City is signing guard Jared Butler to a two-way deal, his agent Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 2, 2023
Butler was waived by the Jazz after training despite being selected by the team with the 40th pick of the 2021 NBA Draft.
As a rookie, the guard played in 42 games and averaged 3.8 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per contest while shooting 40 percent from the field and 31 percent from the three-point line.
“Butler was squeezed out of a roster spot in Utah by a roster crunch in Jazz camp and will be closely watched by NBA teams looking for guard help,” according to NBA reporter Marc Stein in September.
Jared Butler Productive In The G League
Butler had been playing for the Grand Rapid Golds of the G League before reportedly signing with the Thunder.
The former Jazz guard appeared in 23 games with the Gold averaging 17.1 points and 5.9 assists while shooting 44 percent from the floor and 35 percent from the three-point line.
Butler has been learning under the tutelage of former University of Utah great and long-time NBA point guard Andre Miller has been coaching the Gold.
JARED BUTLER CATCHES THE FIRST BODY OF THE NIGHT! 🤯😳 @NBAGrandRapids
Tune in NOW on https://t.co/fLGfbO0vpY. pic.twitter.com/wPR1LDkbOK
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) January 21, 2023
The former Ute was named the head coach of the Grand Rapids roster last August, replacing outgoing head coach Jason Terry who accepted a job on Will Hardy’s staff with the Jazz earlier in the summer.
Ironically, Butler’s first games in a Thunder uniform will come against the Jazz as the two teams open a two-game series against one another in Oklahoma City beginning on Friday.
Ben Anderson is the Utah Jazz insider for KSL Sports and the co-host of Jake and Ben from 10-12p with Jake Scott on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone. Find Ben on Twitter at @BensHoops or on Instagram @BensHoops.
