THE Olympic closely monitors the developments around him Jared Butlerwho was released by the Phoenix Suns just 24 hours before the start of the NBA season. According to what was broadcast by Nikos Zervas on News Bulletin 247the “red and whites” have a slight lead in the acquisition of the 25-year-old guard over Partizan, Red Star and Paris, which came into the game strongly in the last hours.
The American is considered ideal for Giorgos Bartzokas’ planas he can play both point guard and shooting guard with ease – something missing from Olympiakos’ existing roster, which features players who exclusively cover one of the two positions. Zervas also touched on the financial aspect, noting that Butler’s earnings in the NBA were high, but the transfer to Europe can be done with competitive amountsimilar to the cases of Keenan Evans and Shayben Lee.
The release from the Suns
The news of Butler’s release from the Suns caused surpriseas the player had just completed an impressive performance in the preseason, scoring 35 points against the Los Angeles Lakers. Everything showed that he had “locked up” a spot on the roster, especially on a team that does not have a clear solution behind Jaylen Green and Devin Booker.
However, the Suns’ decision was not just competitive. On the contrary, there is one hidden behind it complex mix of economic constraintsstrategy and new philosophy.
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The burden of the salary cap and the avoidance of the luxury tax
Butler’s contract for this year amounted to $2.6 million – an amount that would bring the Suns over the luxury tax line. The team, which has just come out of the second “apron” of the salary cap, is trying to avoid new excesses, especially after the huge tax burdens of previous years: $152 million in 2024 and $68 million in 2023.
The owner Matt Isby has already progressed to radical changesshedding highly paid stars like Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, and bringing in new faces in key positions like general manager and head coach.
The selection of Jordan Goodwin and the new philosophy
The release of Butler also marked the dominance of Jordan Goodwin in the “battle” for the position of backup guard. The first seems to fits better in the plan of new coach Jordan Ott, who is looking to build a team with an emphasis on defensive consistency and versatility.
Although Butler has excellent offensive characteristics and it showed composure and maturity in his statements after the preseason -“I don’t put too much pressure on myself. I have the gift to do great things, but I let the result come on its own” – the Suns’ final choice was to give him the opportunity to find the next stage of his career elsewhere.
It’s worth noting that the release came before the official deadline for finalizing rosters, giving Butler time to consider other offers. This move is interpreted by many as showing respect to the playerwhich showed he can stand at a high level.
The American guard knotwell, he’s looking for a team after his NBA stint and short stint with the Philadelphia 76ers last season, with his name already being suggested and being seriously considered by the Reds. The player is also of interest to Partizan, which is closely following the developments.
The 25-year-old ace, height of 1.91 m.has been playing in the top league of the planet since 2021, when he was selected at No.40 in the draft by the New Orleans Pelicans. That same year he had won the NCAA college championship with the Baylor Bears, being the leading scorer of his team with an average of 16.7 points, 4.8 assists and 3.3 rebounds.
At the NBA level, Butler has played for the Jazz, Thunder, Wizards and 76ers, counting 148 regular season games with 6.7 points, 2.8 assists and 1.5 rebounds per game.
If Olympiacos can finally add him to their squad, they will add a player with experience, flexibility and perspective – elements that can make the difference in a demanding EuroLeague season.
Source: Sport Fm
I am currently a news writer for News Bulletin247 where I mostly cover sports news. I have always been interested in writing and it is something I am very passionate about. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and spending time with my family and friends.
