“ We didn't trade Derrick, are you crazy? » Aaron Turner, the agent of Derrick Jones Jr., can't believe it, in this 2019 offseason, when he thinks he learns of his client's transfer to Dallas. “ Not that Dallas is a bad place to go. But it didn't make any sense “, the agent remembers today with The Athletic.
The athletic winger is then under contract for one more year with the Heat. A Heat in full negotiation with the Sixers to get their hands on Jimmy Butler, while Dallas must invite itself into this triangle exchange, thinking of recovering Derrick Jones Jr. and Kelly Olynyk. Except that the Floridians are actually offering Goran Dragic…
The negotiations logically collapse. Four years later, new offseason and new configuration for Derrick Jones Jr. He chose to decline a $3.4 million option with the Bulls, with desires elsewhere. The Suns are on the docket, while “DJJ” has the Celtics in the lead.
Full-time incumbent
He finally signed, for $2.7 million, with the team he thought he would have been transferred to in 2019: the Mavs. A training that promises him nothing, he will have to fight, as usual, to get his place. The starting position is in no way assured because the roles, around Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, have not been decided.
“ Kidd didn't promise him anything. But this is a team where there are no politics. They will play the best because they want to win. You have to go somewhere where they don't want you, but where they need you. », Judges his agent, convinced that Derrick Jones Jr. will find his place. Which will quickly be the case.
The defensive and athletic qualities of the Pennsylvania native were evident to Jason Kidd, who started him at the start of the season. He will start 66 times, in 76 games, and will not leave the five in the playoffs.
Against the Thunder, he is responsible for slowing down Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. A particularly complicated challenge, even if the Thunder star is 5/14 on shots when “DJJ” is his direct defender. But in Texas, more than with all the franchises visited so far, he also has the green light to shoot.
Test its value on the market
Abandoned by opposing defenses, more focused on the two Texan ball carriers, the winger regularly passes the 10-point mark in these final phases, including his last outing at 17 points, his personal best in the playoffs, in the fourth round against in Oklahoma City. “ D-Jones is one of those guys you count on both defensively and offensively », remarked Jason Kidd recently.
The only rotation player who does not yet have a contract for next season, Derrick Jones Jr. could be offered a “midlevel exception” of $5.2 million by Dallas. Author of his most successful campaign of his career, he should test the market to realize his value, in the hope that the Mavs align.
“ We are aware of the business aspect (and the fact that) maybe other teams can pay him more. But we clearly want him to come back », Already displays Jason Kidd.
| Derrick Jones | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2016-17 | PHX | 32 | 17 | 56.2 | 27.3 | 70.7 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 5.3 |
| 2017-18 * | All Teams | 20 | 12 | 39.6 | 16.7 | 66.7 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 3.1 |
| 2017-18 * | MIA | 14 | 15 | 38.8 | 18.8 | 61.1 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 2.4 | 0.4 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 3.7 |
| 2017-18 * | PHX | 6 | 6 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 83.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 1.5 |
| 2018-19 | MIA | 60 | 19 | 49.4 | 30.8 | 60.7 | 1.6 | 2.4 | 4.0 | 0.6 | 2.1 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 7.0 |
| 2019-20 | MIA | 59 | 23 | 52.7 | 28.0 | 77.2 | 1.1 | 2.8 | 4.0 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 8.5 |
| 2020-21 | POR | 58 | 23 | 48.4 | 31.6 | 64.8 | 1.3 | 2.2 | 3.5 | 0.8 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 6.8 |
| 2021-22 | CHI | 51 | 18 | 53.8 | 32.8 | 80.0 | 1.2 | 2.1 | 3.3 | 0.6 | 2.1 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 5.6 |
| 2022-23 | CHI | 64 | 14 | 50.0 | 33.8 | 73.8 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 2.4 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 5.0 |
| 2023-24 | DAL | 76 | 24 | 48.3 | 34.3 | 71.3 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 3.3 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 8.6 |
| Total | 420 | 20 | 50.2 | 31.6 | 70.6 | 1.2 | 2.1 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 6.7 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
