The Atlanta Hawks officially signed Lamont Butler ahead of today’s preseason match against the Miami Heat, where he immediately made the team regret not taking their chance on him earlier. Butler was a five-year player in college, leading San Diego State on a Cinderella run to the National Championship game before losing to UConn.
Butler was reported to have signed a two-way deal with the team months ago after he went undrafted. This was inaccurate, however, as the team would fill their three two-way spots weeks later. Butler was then signed to the summer league squad but did not play while nursing an ankle injury. He signed a training camp contract in late September but was waived just two days later.
Very little has been reported from either camp about the circumstances that led to this unusual contract situation. Whatever the reason, Butler understood that this might be his only shot to earn NBA minutes and came into the game on fire. He tallied 18 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals in 37 minutes during Atlanta’s 119-118 victory.
Butler might’ve played his way into a contract today
A defense-first guard, Butler’s impact was felt instantly. Just seconds into his preseason debut, he nabbed a steal and hit Asa Newell for a transition assist. He finished the first quarter with two steals and shot 2-3 from three. Butler kept his hands active throughout the match and was usually able to stay in front of his assignment.
His offense, however, was the most intriguing aspect of his night, considering Butler's profile as a prospect. The former Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year was always expected to be a standout defender. Still, Butler had perhaps the most juice as an offensive creator of any player outside of Vit Krejci, displaying a tantalizing combination of shifty ball handling and explosive athleticism.
The Hawks began most possessions with a Butler pick and roll at the top of the key, where he showed remarkable poise. Butler’s go-to move after accelerating to take advantage of the screen was to hit the brakes around the free throw line. He used his body well to keep his defender in jail before reading the floor and deciding whether to pass or shoot.
Butler has historically been a questionable shooter despite his 39.1% clip from deep last season. He shot 32.1% from downtown and 67.5% from the charity stripe over his five-year collegiate career. Today, however, Butler did his best to dispel these concerns, shooting 3-7 from three and 5-6 from the free throw line.
Butler’s night was not without its fair share of rookie mistakes, turning the ball over five times. While this is a high mark, many of these errors were preventable. The silliest of his turnovers came when he caught the ball out of bounds in the corner. He needs to clean up these mistakes, but with the benefit of practicing with the team, it is hard to imagine the high-IQ Butler would be unable to improve in this regard.
He also struggled to finish in the paint, shooting just 2-7 with most of these attempts coming at the rim. While the turnovers should naturally improve with time, the finishing weakness could be a long-term concern. Butler was able to reach the paint off drives and screens, but he was unable to create good looks after the defense collapsed. Standing 6’2, Butler will have to develop a craftier finishing package or look to pass to the open man in these opportunities.
For a team without a clear backup point guard, Butler appears to be the team’s best shot at finding a player capable of developing into this role. While his hot start faded throughout the game, Butler could be a solid NBA player with some development. His defensive skill set could make him a potential backcourt partner for Trae Young, though their lack of size would create some problems.
However, there is no clear spot for Butler in this squad. Atlanta could opt to cut a player to make room for him, but given the fickle contract situation this summer, this seems unlikely. Someone who was watching this game, however, certainly took note of his performance and will be waiting for a chance to sign Butler to a G League or two-way contract.