FSU basketball: Impact of John Butler remaining in NBA Draft

The deadline for former four-star center John Butler to remove his name from the NBA Draft list passed, and Butler announced he intended to remain in the draft and not return to FSU basketball for his sophomore season.

The freshman appeared in 31 games, averaging 31 minutes, 5.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks on 41 percent shooting overall and 39 percent shooting from three-point land.

Butler lists as 7’1″ and a 7’3″ wingspan, but still under 200 pounds. It’s an interesting decision, and unlike what most blue-chip players attending FSU have done in recent history.

Usually, players test the waters and confirm they’ll likely become first-round lottery picks before choosing to remain in the draft. That’s not the case for Butler, who isn’t seen as a lottery pick. Heck, most project him as a project player that’ll could get drafted in the second round.

He has all of the potential in the world, but he’ll need time for his body to physically mature and for his game to develop. Will that happen in the NBA? It’s possible, but the consensus is he probably needed to come back to FSU for another year to secure a first-round draft grade in next year’s draft.

That’s not the case for Butler, who isn’t seen as a lottery pick. Heck, most project him as a project player that’ll could get drafted in the second round. He has all of the potential in the world, but he’ll need time for his body to physically mature and for his game to develop.

Will that happen in the NBA? It’s possible, but the consensus is he probably needed to come back to FSU for another year to secure a first-round draft grade in next year’s draft. FSU basketball had a young team last season, and they’ll miss Butler’s experience, three-point shooting, and shot blocking.

Leonard Hamilton has young talent joining the program from the 2022 recruiting class. Five players from the high school ranks and two transfers are already working on the upcoming season.

A starting lineup could look like Jalen Warley, Caleb Mills, Matthew Cleveland, Cam’Ron Fletcher, and Naheem McLeod. Those five players make up nearly all of the production remaining from last season, which makes the two transfers incredibly important Leonard Hamilton isn’t too dependent on the freshmen like last season.

Good luck to John Butler!