07-15-2023, 09:02 PM
(This post was last modified: 07-15-2023, 09:21 PM by surfpuckmd.)
(07-15-2023, 06:06 PM)F Gump Wrote: Can one of you guys who are hot and heavy for D Jones tell me what you see that the NBA doesn't? Or why he would be desirable and needed in Dallas, when NBA teams who have him doesn't seem to be all that excited to use him?
He has been in the NBA for 7 seasons, and has even gotten full MLE or close to it. Yet he has never been used very much. He's coming off a season playing only 14 mpg.
He also doesn't seem to have much of a market for his services.
I don't know his game, but something isn't adding up. Why would he be a player to add, when he can't get minutes anywhere else? Help me out.
I don't think anyone is hot and heavy for Derrick Jones Jr. I think he is one of the three best available free agents remaining though. I think the Mavs paid a significant cost to have the MLE available and they should use at least most of it. Jones Jr. is one of the few free agents available worth more than the minimum.
He is a role player. He does not create offense nor serve as a secondary ballhandler/playmaker on offense. He is an athletic defender. He can finish in transition and is a lob threat on offense. He can hit open 3-pointers. The Mavericks should want a very specific type of role player- athletic defenders who can hit open 3-pointers. It would be a good fit.
The fact that he's reasonably young is also a good thing as there's better potential for his 3-point shooting to improve.
He is still available because he's just a role player. He's also a defensive role player and those aren't valued as highly as offensive role players. I suggest that Derrick Jones Jr. is more of a winning player than Seth Curry and a better fit on this team. However, Curry was signed first because the NBA generally values offense over defense. I think Curry also is a good culture fit here and well-liked by Cuban so they felt good bringing him back.
DJJ is likely looking for more than the vet minimum. I think it's likely teams have offered the minimum and he has decided to wait to see if he can get a better offer. Especially after he turned down his player option with the Bulls. It's possible that he's looking for the right fit as well. Maybe he knows he'd fit best on a team with outstanding point guards who can create a lot of open looks for him and feed him lobs.
I think his minutes were limited this last year with the Bulls because they have Pat Williams who has more potential than DJJ. DJJ played significantly more minutes the previous four seasons. He played 23 minutes per game for the Blazers a few years ago. That team finished 6th in the West. The season before, he played 23 minutes per game for the Heat. That team finished 5th in the East. He's been a regular contributor on multiple playoff teams. I think he could get 15-20 minutes per game here.
I hope we sign him to 2 year deal over the vet minimum with the 2nd-year being a team option. If he crashes and burns here , he's an expiring contract at the deadline which would have value.
Why would the Mavs not sign him? We have plenty of MLE money to afford him and an open roster spot.
The only reason I can think of is that Cuban would rather not spend money when he doesn't have to.