Derrick Jones Jr - is the improvement real?

[MFFL]

How Derrick Jones Jr. has become the surprise player of the Dallas Mavericks’ young season

https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/maveri...ng-season/

[youzigizag]

Wow...internet is telling me he is only 26. Thought he had been around longer and was near 30 at least.

Are we so sure this just isnt a case of Mavs' roster being trash as far as bball skilled players go until like last year. He is a breath of fresh air if sustained...but I think the simplest answer is he is a bball player with bball skills...and you want to acquire similar guys. Mavs have been stuck with guys that cant catch a bball, cant dribble a bbal, cant shoot a bball, cant pass a bball. DJJ seems like MJ compared to recent players on the Mavs.

[DanSchwartzgan]

https://youtube.com/watch?v=RspoIKSYglk&si=3f3GEjrARC5z-CXG

What Isaac is doing now.

[SleepingHero]

Wow...internet is telling me he is only 26.  Thought he had been around longer and was near 30 at least.

Are we so sure this just isnt a case of Mavs' roster being trash as far as bball skilled players go until like last year.  He is a breath of fresh air if sustained...but I think the simplest answer is he is a bball player with bball skills...and you want to acquire similar guys.  Mavs have been stuck with guys that cant catch a bball, cant dribble a bbal,  cant shoot a bball, cant pass a bball.  DJJ seems like MJ compared to recent players on the Mavs.

It's pretty crazy thinking that the Mavs ran out Aaron Holiday, Franky Smokes, AJ Lawson, Reggie Bullock, all on the wing last season. All of them are fringe NBA players at best. 

DJJ does seem like Jordan compared to all of those guys. I'm trying not to fall in love with him but his athleticism is something the Mavs sorely need from their SF.

[Mavs2021]

Wow...internet is telling me he is only 26.  Thought he had been around longer and was near 30 at least.

Are we so sure this just isnt a case of Mavs' roster being trash as far as bball skilled players go until like last year.  He is a breath of fresh air if sustained...but I think the simplest answer is he is a bball player with bball skills...and you want to acquire similar guys.  Mavs have been stuck with guys that cant catch a bball, cant dribble a bbal,  cant shoot a bball, cant pass a bball.  DJJ seems like MJ compared to recent players on the Mavs.

You won´t get an argument from me on the skilled bball players Mavs roster construction. I always said a championship roster is build on the idea that great players make sacrifices.

What DJJ is currently doing, nobody saw coming. He´s been in the NBA since 2016 with four different teams and never shot better than 33.8% from three, 30.4% career. Currently he´s at 36.7% and has doubled his career average in PPG. Let´s hope it continues.

[Chicagojk]

We will see. Maybe he is a 40 game place holder. Maybe the full year. Maybe he sticks around after this year. It is really great that him and Exum are proving to be really nice stopgaps. Maybe they wind up being more. Maybe not.

Jones is playing with really good confidence though. No hesitation on his shot and has also started to attack the rim off the bounce.

I think Iztok that teams have been putting their big on Jones. Is that true? If Jones can be a 37 percent three shooter that puts a lot of pressure on other teams.

[SwisherPrice]

Maybe not real but I'll still gladly take it because he's the closest thing to the ideal wing that this team needs (even though he still has plenty of flaws). I'm not expecting him to be a good 3-pt shooter but if he can maintain a low 30% average then that should be considered a win. He has hovered in that same low 30s from 3 for his career but that was with way less attempts than this year.

[ThisIStheYear]

His advanced stats are the same as they’ve always been. He’s a good role player. Underrated for a long time. Probably overrated now. But he’s the same. The Mavs need a starting wing. Jones will be good off the bench.

[Dundalis]

If he was more reliable from the 3 point line, he'd be a very solid starter on a contender. But even though he's basically only taking wide open 3's, he's as inconsistent with hitting them as a good shooter is on contested 3's. He's still a clear better option than Green to start, but the teams primary need outside of a true backup 5 is a long defensive wing, who ideally starts in his position. Him, Green and Exum as bench unit perimeter lockdown option would be ideal.

[SwisherPrice]

It looks like the improvement is real! These are the types of players the Mavs need to take chances on and work them into the rotation. Long, athletic, players who maybe aren't the best shooters but they have other abilities. Then, they just might develop into good enough shooters here as an added bonus. Much better instead of constantly narrowing their options by settling for undersized or physically-limited players who are just supposed to be shooting specialists.

[Chicagojk]

He has been a nice surprise. Only 26. Did the Mavs actually upgrade from former UNLV players this offseason?

Question, Do you think things would look different/better if Portland did not match for Thybulle and us not signing Jones?

[surfpuckmd]

He has been a nice surprise.  Only 26.  Did the Mavs actually upgrade from former UNLV players this offseason?

Question, Do you think things would look different/better if Portland did not match for Thybulle and us not signing Jones?

He's been better than Thybulle.  His defense isn't as good but he is much better offensively.  

Honestly, I think he's been slightly better than Grant Williams thus far.  The Mavericks seem to have struggled against athletic teams for a long time.  It's refreshing to watch and see the Mavs with a super-athletic forward on the roster.  Along with Kyrie and Josh Green, it's nice to see some quick-twitch players in Maverick uniforms.

DJJ is unlikely to maintain his current 3-point percentage-  .415.  However, his 3-point percentage has improved for 5 consecutive seasons.  That's evidence of hard work in the offseason improving his game.  I think the spike in percentage this season is also related to a lot of open looks playing with Luka and Kyrie.  I predict he'll finish at over 35% from 3 for the season.

DJJ looks like an excellent rotation player thus far.  It would have been wise to sign him to a 2-year deal this past off-season at a number higher than the vet minimum.  Re-signing him this coming off-season should be a priority.

[KillerLeft]

He has been a nice surprise.  Only 26.  Did the Mavs actually upgrade from former UNLV players this offseason?

Question, Do you think things would look different/better if Portland did not match for Thybulle and us not signing Jones?

Things look way better with Jones than they would've with Thybulle, in my opinion. I hated that offer, and I'm super glad Portland saved the Mavs from themselves.

[Chicagojk]

Old UNLV proverb: sometimes you have to struggle getting through the Woods to enjoy airplane mode!

[ThisIStheYear]

His advanced stats are the same as they’ve always been. He’s a good role player. Underrated for a long time. Probably overrated now. But he’s the same. The Mavs need a starting wing. Jones will be good off the bench.

Ok. I’ve upgraded my assessment. He’s shown this year that he can hold onto his really nice advanced statistical profile and play efficiently even in a pretty substantial role. He’s pretty good, fits with Luka, and is on Luka’s timeline. The Mavs need to find a way to keep him. This year doesn’t look like a fluke. It just looks like a guy who’s always been pretty good getting a real shot in a rotation. And maybe he’s also improved his 3 point shooting a bit.

[mvossman]

Ok. I’ve upgraded my assessment. He’s shown this year that he can hold onto his really nice advanced statistical profile and play efficiently even in a pretty substantial role. He’s pretty good, fits with Luka, and is on Luka’s timeline. The Mavs need to find a way to keep him. This year doesn’t look like a fluke. It just looks like a guy who’s always been pretty good getting a real shot in a rotation. And maybe he’s also improved his 3 point shooting a bit.

If he keeps this up its more than a bit.  He has doubled his rate (3s attempted per 36) while shooting a much higher percentage.  He was always a good defender and athletic getting to the rim, but the hope was that he could hit enough corner threes to not be left completely alone.  If he keeps this up it might be hard to hold on to him even if we clear enough space for full MLE.