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Atlanta Hawks NBA Draft: 5 prospects to target with the 20th pick

By Joshua Buckhalter

April 5, 2021; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Baylor Bears guard Jared Butler (12) in the second half during the national championship game in the Final Four of the 2021 NCAA Tournament against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
April 5, 2021; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Baylor Bears guard Jared Butler (12) in the second half during the national championship game in the Final Four of the 2021 NCAA Tournament against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Atlanta Hawks 2021 NBA Draft Prospect No. 1: Jared Butler played tremendous ball for the National Champion Baylor Bears

2021 Stats: 16.7/3.3/4.8; .471/.416/.780

Baylor point guard Jared Butler was just announced as the Big 12 Sportsperson of the Year. It’s the culmination of a season that saw him hit collegiate career-highs in points, efficiency, on the glass, and as a distributor. He even upped his defensive profile for the 2020 NCAA National Champion Bears.

Perhaps the best thing about Butler is that he improved every year while in school. We see players’ development stagnate far too often.

Right after year-to-year growth is Butler’s performance in the NCAA Tournament. The Most Outstanding Player in this year’s March Madness, he averaged 13.8 points, 4.6 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.0 steals en route to the title game where he dropped 22 points with seven assists, and three boards. He shot 42.8 percent from the floor and 44.4 percent from deep.

He is a diverse scorer and while he isn’t a lockdown defender, he has better size and is scrappier on that end than Trae Young. And with Atlanta’s need for a backup point guard that could even play alongside Young at times, Butler seems to fit the bill.

There is some concern, however, as he was referred to a Fitness-to-Play panel by the NBA.

The panel, which usually deals with life-threatening cardiac conditions and blood disorders, most notably stepped in in the case of Chris Bosh whose career essentially ended with a blood clot diagnosis back in 2017.

Age, plus a slight frame (still bigger than Young at 6-foot-3 and 193 pounds), and now a cloudy bill of health. These are typical factors that cause a player with Butler’s resume to slide into the 20s.

Should his medicals check out, he’d be a nice get for the Hawks in the latter stages of the draft.