He could find success elsewhere, even if he won't be on the Phoenix Suns.
a winner of their top training camp battle this weekend after waiving Jared Butler - signaling Jordan Goodwin earned backup guard duties for the team ahead of the 2025-26 season. The move shocked some across the interwebs, especially after a strong 35-point finish to the preseason against the Los Angeles Lakers, leading many to believe he had stamped a spot on the roster with a Suns team that doesn't have an established option behind Jalen Green and Devin Booker.
However, Butler's $2.6 million salary for the upcoming year may have played a role in the Suns' decision.Phoenix, who just got themselves out of the dreaded second-apron, are looking to avoid the luxury tax - at least at this point in time. Butler's salary this year would have put the Suns over that line, as Spotrac's Keith Smith highlighted: I feel like Jared Butler is an NBA player. Have felt that way for a while. Suns need PG depth, even after keeping Jordan Goodwin. And being a few million into the tax isn't a bad thing to start the year. Plenty of time to get out of the tax by the trade deadline. Phoenix owner Mat Ishbia cleaned house from top to bottom this offseason, employing new faces at general manager and head coach while also splitting ways with big names in Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. Still, it didn't appear to be an easy decision, and it feels like Butler will have success practically anywhere else he lands as a result.“Not putting too much pressure on myself. That’s kind of my weakness, putting a lot of pressure on myself to perform well," Butler told reporters after the preseason. "I do so many great things, because I feel like I have this God given ability to do things. At the end of the day, just letting the outcome be the outcome and taking it one step at a time.” Besides the luxury tax angle, Goodwin might have simply been a better fit for what first-year coach Jordan Ott wants to build moving into the regular season. The intriguing part? Phoenix can still add another player to round out their 15-man roster ahead of Monday's deadline. However, the Suns might have done Butler a solid and simply released him ahead of time to allow more opportunities as teams must have their rosters trimmed the day before regular season action begins on Oct. 21.Donnie Druin is the Publisher for Arizona Cardinals and Phoenix Suns On SI. Donnie moved to Arizona in 2012 and has been with the company since 2018. In college he won "Best Sports Column" in the state of Arizona for his section and has previously provided coverage for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona State Sun Devils. Follow Donnie on Twitter @DonnieDruin for more news, updates, analysis and more!
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