To recover Tyus Jones for next season in exchange for a check of only $3.3 million, it's a great deal for the Suns. Given the struggles at the position last season, Phoenix needed a point guard and the former Washington man is very reliable.
How did the Suns pull off such a stunt? Josh Bartelstein, the franchise's general manager, gave a clue when the player was introduced. “I think in the last ten days there's been a human aspect that's come into play, the way he's been treated, his incredible family and his children.”the leader said.
The latter returned, more in length and in videoon this signature. “Relationships are so important. His agent, Kevin Bradbury, and I are friends. James Jones (president and GM) and I talked about it all the time: if we could get Tyus, it would be a big deal. For the first ten days of free agency, we just sat back and saw how the market played out.”he begins.
Little touches to convince
The Suns didn't have much financial means because the finances are in the red, especially because of the contracts of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. So it took patience and smarts to get a good deal.
“Our first real meeting with Tyus Jones and his agent was in Las Vegas, during the Summer League,” confirms the Suns general manager. “We had a drink and talked about his role, how he would be perfect for us. But also that they were going to take their time and see how things would evolve. From then on, we said to ourselves that we were going to recruit him. At worst, he was going to say no.”
This is where we find Josh Bartelstein's words during the official presentation. The leader did not mention ” the way he is treated, his amazing family and children ” by chance. “We did everything to recruit him,” he continues. “From little gifts to videos for the kids, to little things, to show that we were interested. We did the same thing for Bradley Beal so that he would choose the Suns and not use his no-trade clause.”
Apparently it works. “We believe in that and we think that, on the margin, we're going to win. If someone offers more money, then that counts, for sure. But if it's very close, we feel that our community here, our relationships, our services can give us an advantage. It's worked with some players,” Josh Bartelstein rejoices.
| Tyus Jones | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2015-16 | MIN | 37 | 16 | 35.9 | 30.2 | 71.8 | 0.2 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 2.9 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 4.2 |
| 2016-17 | MIN | 60 | 13 | 41.4 | 35.6 | 76.7 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 3.5 |
| 2017-18 | MIN | 82 | 18 | 45.7 | 34.9 | 87.7 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 2.8 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 5.1 |
| 2018-19 | MIN | 68 | 23 | 41.5 | 31.7 | 84.1 | 0.3 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 4.8 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 6.9 |
| 2019-20 | MEM | 65 | 19 | 45.9 | 37.9 | 74.1 | 0.1 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 4.4 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 7.5 |
| 2020-21 | MEM | 70 | 18 | 43.1 | 32.1 | 91.1 | 0.3 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 3.7 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 6.3 |
| 2021-22 | MEM | 73 | 21 | 45.1 | 39.0 | 81.8 | 0.2 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 4.4 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 8.7 |
| 2022-23 | MEM | 80 | 24 | 43.8 | 37.1 | 80.0 | 0.4 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 5.2 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 10.3 |
| 2023-24 | WAS | 66 | 29 | 48.9 | 41.4 | 80.0 | 0.3 | 2.4 | 2.7 | 7.4 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 12.0 |
| Total | 601 | 20 | 44.5 | 36.7 | 81.3 | 0.3 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 4.3 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 7.4 | |
How to read the stats? GM = Games Played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots Made / Shots Attempted; 3pts = 3-pointers / 3-pointers Attempted; LF = Free Throws Made / Free Throws Attempted; Off = Offensive Rebound; Def = Defensive Rebound; Tot = Total Rebounds; Pd = Assists; Fte: Personal Fouls; Int = Steals; Bp = Loose Balls; Ct: Blocks; Pts = Points.
