Jimmy Butler, a guard/forward from Marquette, is the projected pick of the Boston Celtics at No. 25 overall according to Chad Ford of ESPN in his final mock draft prior to Thursday night's 2011 NBA Draft.
Butler, who played four seasons with the Golden Eagles, averaged 15.7 points and 6.1 rebounds last season. Butler also averaged 2.3 assists and 1.4 steals while shooting 34.5 percent from three-point range.
If the Celtics are going to keep competing for a title, they need players who know their roles, can play without the ball in their hands and meld in. Butler brings toughness, defense and heart.
Butler epitomizes that approach with his game and would be a great fit with the Celtics as a player who can play multiple positions off the bench. Reggie Jackson is another strong possibility here, as is Norris Cole. (Chad Ford, ESPN)
Here's some more analysis on Butler from Ryan Hannable on Green Street, WEEI.com's Boston Celtics blog.
Butler does not have one particular part of his game that will blow anyone away, but he is a solid all-around player. He is very versatile as he can play guard and forward, but he will, in all likelihood, be a guard in the NBA. He is most known for being an active defender and understanding the game well. He has a good mid-range game but needs to work on his 3-point shooting. He also posts up well for a guy of his size but does struggle with creating his own shot. (via WEEI)
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