Wizards agree to three-year deal with former second-round guard

The Wizards and third-year guard Jared Butler have reached an agreement on a three-year contract, agent Mark Bartelstein tells Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. The deal will promote Butler to the 15-man roster and keep him under team control for two seasons after this one.

While the exact details aren’t yet known, Butler’s new contract will likely feature little to no guaranteed salary beyond 2023-24. The Wizards will use a portion of their mid-level exception to give him a deal that covers more than just two seasons.

Butler, the No. 40 overall pick in the 2021 draft, began his NBA career in Utah but was waived ahead of his second season in October 2022. He finished the 2022-23 season on a two-way contract with the Thunder, then signed a two-year deal with Washington last July.

In 35 games as a Wizard, Butler has averaged 5.6 points, 2.9 assists, and 1.3 rebounds in 13.0 minutes per contest, with a shooting line of .490/.313/.885. He has been a regular part of the rotation in recent weeks, appearing in each of Washington’s last 13 games and averaging 21.3 minutes in those outings.

The Wizards currently have a full 15-man standard roster, so someone will need to be waived to make room for Butler. Isaiah Livers, who is on an expiring contract and out for the season due to a hip injury, is the likeliest candidate.

Since the deadline to sign a player to a two-way contract passed last month, Washington won’t be able to fill Butler’s two-way slot once he’s promoted.