Can Suns bench scoring problem be solved by Jared Butler for 2025-2026 season?

The Suns signed Butler to an Exhibit 9 contract, which doesn’t guarantee him a roster spot on next year’s roster. However, Phoenix would be making a grave mistake on not signing Butler for next year as he answers the team’s major bench problem.

How Butler solves the Suns bench:

The Suns bench lack of ball handlers is the biggest problem heading into the 2025-2026 season. Other guards like Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale are more off ball players that are knockdown shooters. Collin Gillespie is considered a true point guard, but only got his first opportunity last season and lacks experience on being a regular rotational player.

Phoenix bench is filled with rookies and off-ball players, which puts the pressure on players like Devin Booker and Jalen Green to facilitate the offense for others instead of focusing on their game. Butler would open the door as the ball handler by pressuring the rim and forcin g the defense to collapse for open shooters on the perimeter.

Butler is comfortable with the ball in his hands and doesn’t have tunnel vision when it comes to finding his teammates. His finishing ability and elusiveness when driving to the basket is what makes him a tough cover for defenders. The Suns don’t have another player for their bench at the same caliber as Butler in that regard.

While his roster spot isn’t confirmed, Butler’s spot on next year’s roster should be a lock with his ability offensively. At 6’1, Butler is undersized, meaning he has troubled guarding his position. However, Jordan Ott can easily hide him in the corner defensively, or if he is trapped in a one-on-one, the Suns have many defensive anchor centers ready to help.

Butler can make a serious impact on the Suns and will be the team’s biggest signing when looking back to this year’s offseason.