Butler Shines In Final Jazz Summer League Game

SALT LAKE CITY – Despite dropping their third consecutive game at the Salt Lake City Summer league, Jared Butler showed Jazz fans promising signs of his potential on Thursday night.

The Jazz fell to the Memphis Grizzlies 95-84 in their Salt Lake finale, but Butler led all scorers in his second summer league appearance.

Last year’s second-round draft pick scored 22 points to go with seven rebounds and seven assists after managing just 10 points in his summer league opener on Tuesday.

After missing his first six shots, Jared Butler bounced back in a big way offensively, as he makes eight of his next 15 shots on the way to a game high 22 points, while also dishing out a game high seven assists in the final game of the 2022 Salt Lake City Summer League. pic.twitter.com/bp6bpfU1Pl

— Eric Kelly (@EricKellyTV) July 8, 2022

Butler began the game shooting 0-6 from the floor, but finished by knocking down eight of his final 15 attempts to close the game.

Tasked with point guard duties throughout the game, Butler seemed to be hunting shots early in the first quarter but settled into his role throughout the final three periods.

Perhaps most impressively was the way Butler took care of the ball, turning it over just once in nearly 29 minutes of play.

At Baylor, Butler shared point guard duties with Sacramento Kings lottery pick Davion Mitchell, but in his rookie season he played off the ball more alongside Donovan Mitchell and Mike Conley.

Jared Butler locks up defensively on the perimeter, stops on a dime in transition and hits the 3. pic.twitter.com/bRH0mJazHY

— Aram Cannuscio (@AC__Hoops) July 6, 2022

At 6-foot-3 and roughly 200-pounds, Butler is undersized as a two-guard and will be better suited as a point guard if he wants to extend his career beyond this season.

While there is still considerable work to be done, Thursday’s showing was a step in the right direction for the second-year guard.

Cockburn, Caboclo Play Well

In addition to Butler’s impressive showing, the Jazz got strong performances from Kofi Cockburn and Bruno Caboclo.

Caboclo followed up Wednesday’s eye-catching debut with a 17 point, seven rebound, three block performance against a talented Grizzlies frontcourt that features Xavier Tillman.

𝙰𝙲𝙲𝙴𝚂𝚂: 𝙳𝙴𝙽𝙸𝙴𝙳 🔒#TakeNote | @bruno_caboclo pic.twitter.com/7KoAGrF7ML

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) July 8, 2022

On draft night 2014, Fran Fraschilla notoriously said Caboclo was “two years away from being two years away,” but he seems to have shown he’s no longer a longshot to compete at the NBA level.

The Brazillian big man will turn 27 shortly before the NBA season and has played just six games in the league over the last two years, but if he continues to perform the way he has for the Jazz over the last two nights, he could find a home once again in the pros.

Cockburn signed with the Jazz on draft night after falling out of the second round where there was some speculation he might get selected. The former Illinois big man is a throwback NBA center who averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds during his final season at college but is having to adapt to the faster, more perimeter-oriented NBA game.

No stopping Kofi Cockburn 😤 pic.twitter.com/SGIx4j6Vy5

— NBA TV (@NBATV) July 8, 2022

After a five point, seven rebound debut on Tuesday, he bounced back with a solid 12 point, nine rebound outing to close the Salt Lake City Summer League.

Cockburn must develop further before he’ll make an NBA roster, but his excellent size and attitude make him a candidate to stick around in the G League, and potentially get a call-up in the future.

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