For Jared Butler, success is proving he belongs in Phoenix

We’re continuing our Bright Side series by exploring what success looks like for each Suns player in 2025–26.

The Phoenix Suns added Jared Butler this summer, and while the move may not draw any national attention, it is quietly one of the smarter depth plays of the offseason.

Low-risk plays with upside are always my favorite signings, even if they don’t pan out. Phoenix needed another ball handler who could run the offense without derailing possessions, and Butler checks that box. He is still just

24 years old, but he has 4 years of NBA experience. I was a big fan of his game at Baylor and believe there is some upside here worth pursuing.

His deal is a one-year, non-guaranteed Exhibit 9 contract. In other words, he has to earn his spot in training camp and preseason. There is no cushion, no fallback, and no guaranteed safety net in the G League if he is waived. That alone signals the Suns want accountability and competition for the last roster spots.

Butler’s resume has been nomadic. Drafted in the second round in 2021, he has spent time with Utah, Oklahoma City, Washington, and Philadelphia. Last season, he showed glimpses of the polished guard he was projected to be coming out of Baylor.

In 60 games last season, he averaged 9.0 points and 3.7 assists while shooting an efficient blend of 45 percent from the field, 35.5 percent from three, and 82 percent from the line. He averaged 17.4 minutes per game, and in Philadelphia, that number shot up to 24.4 minutes per game due to how shorthanded they were towards the end of the season.

Butler had some promising stretches during the season, including a 26-point outburst against the 76ers, who later traded for him.

What success looks like

Devin Booker and Jalen Green need a safety net outside of Collin Gillespie to shore up the lead guard position. They can’t do everything all 48 minutes. Butler brings just enough creation and shooting to survive in those moments where things could break down towards the end of possessions. He can get a bucket when everything stalls and, just as importantly, he wants to prove he belongs after years of bouncing around the league.

His professional arc also matters to me. Butler has been cut, waived, and overlooked, yet he continues to claw back opportunities. That resilience resonates in a locker room that is still reshaping its identity. They have a group of players who are hungry and trying to make a name for themselves and prove others wrong. There should be a lot less complacency this year compared to recent Suns teams.

Butlet isn’t just trying to prove he belongs; he’s trying to find a long-term home. What better opportunity for a young point guard than Phoenix?

If Jared Butler can do anything, it’s getting buckets and creating for both himself and his teammates

He’s got a tight, creative handle and a lot of burst that lets him overcome his lack of size

Averaged 11.5 points & 4.9 assists per game in Philly pic.twitter.com/fMzE4NTDvH https://t.co/zltSgL2itw
— Point Made Basketball (@pointmadebball) July 23, 2025

Butler does not need to light up the stat sheet. Success for him is simple. Win the backup point guard minutes out of camp. Protect the ball. Knock down open threes. Guard opposing reserves with energy. Make sound decisions late in possessions.

If he consistently delivers those fundamentals, he becomes one of those underappreciated pieces who stabilize a rotation. Not flashy, not noisy, but dependable. Exactly the type of player that allows stars to play freely without worrying about the second unit collapsing. And boy could the Suns use that. Less collapsing, please.

Jared Butler is not expected to play significant minutes. He is not even guaranteed to make the team. But if he does, his role could carry more weight than the box score suggests. For a Suns roster that has been searching for functional depth, Butler has a narrow but meaningful lane to prove he belongs. The pathway to a roster spot is there for him. The opportunity is clear.

Will he capture this opportunity?