I thought Butler was playable. I didn't think he was a lead guard. Still surprised the Jazz would keep Dok when he's shown he can't stay on the floor for two consecutive years. Also, why not release Rudy Gay and let him go join a contender?
Gay is just not all that comparable to the other candidates in most ways on the margins:
- Gay's contract is more a problem of years than amount. If they waive him now, they can't save money next year on the buyout
- If they waive-and-stretch him, then ~$2.4 million stays on the books for FIVE years. That $2.4 million doesn't mean much next year or probably the year after, but it could be real problematic in 2027
- If they waive-and-stretch him next year, then ~$2 million stays on the books for three years.
- If they wait to waive him next year, there is a slim chance someone takes him off waivers, but if that doesn't occur, there is a decent chance they can get the veteran's minimum chopped off the deal which cuts the money owed in half ($3 million).
- His salary next year becomes palatable as trade ballast next year since it would be expiring and mostly viewed as matching salary. That isn't the case with his deal currently because of the additional year.
So IMO, it really only came down to Dok, Butler, and Bolmaro. Since Dok is a famously terrible draft pick (more from context, to be fair), cannot stay healthy, has always been poorly conditioned, has almost 0 ball skills, and players of his type are a dime a dozen, it is downright weird to me that he somehow is still on the roster.