San Diego State is likely going to be without their defensive anchor from the last four seasons in guard Lamont Butler. Butler, the reigning Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year, announced Wednesday night he would be entering the transfer portal.
This comes a few weeks after Butler announced he would be putting his name in the NBA Draft while maintaining his college eligibility. It seems there are three options for Lamont Butler, and at this time he himself might not even know where he will be playing basketball later this year.
Is he going to go to the NBA? Transferring to another school? Or will he wind up back as a San Diego State Aztec?
From San Diego State to the NBA
https://gty.im/2115805044
San Diego State’s season ended at the hands of the eventual national champion Uconn Huskies in the Sweet 16.
A week later, Lamont Butler posted on his social media a week later that he would be declaring for the 2024 NBA Draft while maintaining his college eligibility.
It’s not uncommon for players who are fringe NBA draft picks and still have college eligibility to make an announcement like Butler did. You’re able to test the waters and see how NBA front offices are valuing you.
Furthermore, if you are trending towards not being selected, you still have your college eligibility that allows you to come back for another season to improve your draft stock for the next year.
Butler wasn’t on any mock drafts and his camp must not have been hearing front NBA circles about the possibility of him getting drafted. Unless something drastic changes, it is unlikely that Butler will end up on an NBA summer league roster this year.
Butler has spent four years in college at San Diego State and still has a year left of eligibility.
Leaving San Diego State for Another School
San Diego State's Lamont Butler — who has already entered the 2024 NBA Draft while retaining his college eligibility — is also entering the transfer portal with the option to return to San Diego State, per his Twitter page.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) April 25, 2024
Butler announcing that he put his name in the transfer portal is a big disappointment for Aztecs fans.
It appeared he was going to go to the NBA as a lifelong Aztec but now it appears he will be using his final year of eligibility at a different school.
When I read this, I was very surprised. Coach Brian Dutcher isn’t going anywhere, the Aztecs are favored in the Mountain West again, and Butler would be a key piece as a starting guard.
It seemed that Butler was going to the NBA or staying at San Diego State. With his name in the portal, there are going to be a lot of suitors across the country to land the Defensive Player of the Year in the Mountain West.
Coming Back to San Diego State
https://gty.im/1985145687
Lamont Butler has been a key piece to a San Diego State that went to the NCAA tournament the last four seasons, including a national championship appearance in 2023.
Butler started all but 3 games for the Aztecs since the 2021-22 season. He averaged 9.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.5 steals per game last year. A lot of what Butler does defensively doesn’t even show up in the stat sheet.
Coming back to San Diego State is probably the least likely option at this point. He could have a change of heart and realize after a few visits to other schools that San Diego State is the only place for him.
Butler’s decision as of now is that his best opportunity to improve his draft stock and receive the most NIL benefits is at a different school, but nothing is finalized yet.
About the Author
Cory is an Oregon Duck alumni and has been following college basketball closely for years. He has attended over 30 games across the country this season alone. Follow Cory on X @cory_pappas1 for more breaking stories.
Check out all the great content Total Apex Sports has to offer. Check us out on X @TotalApexSports and our other sites: Total Apex Sports Bets and Total Apex Fantasy Sports.
