Among their many offseason decisions, the Atlanta Hawks could target former Kentucky Wildcats guard Lamont Butler after the 2025 NBA Draft.
Butler is a 6-foot-2 guard, who began his collegiate career with four seasons at San Diego State. He could be a viable solution to the hawks’ long-standing backup PG issues behind four-time All-Star Trae Young.
The Athletic’s CJ Moore noted that Butler was an “X-factor” for the Wildcats in 2024-25.
Butler averaged 11.4 points, 4.3 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.6 steals, boasting a 56.2% effective field goal mark and hitting 39.1% of his deep looks, but his calling card was defense.
“Butler is Kentucky’s most important player, even if the stat sheet does not scream it. The fifth-year transfer guard is having the best statistical season of his college career,” Moore wrote in March. “This year, the Cats are significantly better when Butler is on the floor — by 18.6 points per 100 possessions, with two-thirds of that marginal improvement coming on the defensive end.”
Moore also noted that Butler’s value has always been measured by team success. To that end, the Aztecs made the NCAA tournament in all four of Butler’s seasons with the team and were in the 2023 national championship game.
He hit the game-winning shot to get them there.
On this day in 2023, Lamont Butler hit this STUNNING buzzer-beater to send @Aztec_MBB to the #NationalChampionship 🚨#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/pnGqYARlip
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 1, 2025
Butler ranked 94th on ESPN draft analyst Jonathan Givony’s top-100 players big board.
“Kentucky point guard Lamont Butler, who was a late add to the 2025 NBA G League Elite Camp in Chicago, battled through a lingering shoulder injury that cost him seven games and kept him at less than full strength for much of the season,” CatsPause.com’s Chris Fischer wrote on May 31.
“Kentucky finished the season 20-7 with Butler in the lineup and just 4-5 without him in the lineup.”
Going undrafted could make Lamont Butler as target for College Park Skyhawks
There is a strong possibility that Butler goes undrafted in either round of the 2025 NBA Draft, but that would allow him to sign with whatever team he chooses. The Hawks, who lack a second-round pick, can argue that their G League affiliate, the College Park Skyhawks, is an ideal landing spot.
The Hawks have a lot of cross-action with the Skyhawks, and they have used it to develop all types of prospects, from high draft picks to second-rounders, and even UDFAs.
Coaches have even moved between both staffs in recent seasons.