Derrick Jones Jr., an athletic forward, has finally found a new home after committing to the Dallas Mavericks for a single season. The former slam dunk champion chose to forego the second year of his two-year deal with the Chicago Bulls in order to become an unrestricted free agency back in June. That decision, however, was unsuccessful because there was essentially no demand for Jones’ services up until this past week.
The Mavericks opted to take a chance on the 26-year-old forward and give him a chance to show his worth now that they have assembled a group that may make some noise in the Western Conference.
Jones Jr. should help the Mavericks’ defense get better because he has already established a solid reputation as one of the game’s top dunkers.
Free agent F/C Derrick Jones Jr. has agreed to a one-year fully guaranteed deal with the Dallas Mavericks, his agent Aaron Turner of @VerusTeam told @TheAthletic @Stadium. pic.twitter.com/z2hPxLDIEn
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 9, 2023
Investing in a Young and high potential player seems to be Mavericks strategy
Although Jones’ high-flying career may seem to have been a long time in the making, he is still a youthful forward with untapped potential entering his ninth season in the league. Jones, who is currently a member of his fifth team, has established himself as a “3-and-D” player with abysmally poor shooting.
His calling card is, though, his defense. Listed at 6-foot-6 and 210 pounds, Jones can guard a variety of spots on the court and is a nuisance to opponents with his athleticism and size.
However, despite the fact that Jones has a strong defensive potential, his offensive skill still requires improvement. He had a dismal 30 percent career three-point shooting percentage and only shot 33 percent with the Bulls last season.
Adapting for the Mavericks
The Mavs entered the summer with the intention of bolstering the support for superstars Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic. Along with Jones, Dallas also added Grant Williams, a former Boston Celtics forward, who should contribute strong defense and timely outside shooting to help open up the floor for the stars.
Although Jones isn’t necessarily a scoring danger right away, his defensive prowess and athleticism should allow him to have a significant effect on both sides of the court.
