Robert Chou
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But after Washington retained him at the February trade deadline, Jones had a more specific situation to address on Monday. He and forward Anthony Gill are the two Wizards who will become free agents, and Jones would like to return to Washington.
The former Memphis Grizzlies backup point guard, who came to the Wizards over the summer in a three-team trade, has a feeling they like him here, too.
“From the day I was traded, obviously, knowing that my contract is up, just being in the league, anyone who pays attention to the NBA, knows what that can mean sometimes. But without saying what that means, that was never the front office’s plan for me,” Jones said. “They have said from the beginning: ‘We want you here. The plan is for you to be here long term, and when we get to that bridge, we’ll cross it. “
Jones has taken the opportunity to redefine his career. After spending eight seasons primarily as a backup point guard, the Wizards gave him the opportunity to anchor the starting lineup and provide a steady hand to a young roster.
He was calm on the court, brought perspective to the locker room and posted career highs in points (12) and assists (7.3) per game, field goal percentage (48.9) and three-point field goal percentage (41 ,4), maintaining a 7.35. assist-turnover ratio, fifth best in the league among point guards. And the four players ahead of him didn’t log anywhere near his 29.3 minutes per game.
“I certainly feel like I’m on the tip of the iceberg,” said Jones, who turns 28 on May 10.
Beyond his numbers, Jones feels valued in Washington. He has a voice.
“Tyus is like our chill pill,” Corey Kispert said. “It’s like our anxiety medicine.”
When interim coach Brian Keefe took over in late January, Monumental Basketball president Michael Winger and general manager Will Dawkins agreed to bench Jordan Poole in an attempt to get him out of a bad patch in the season. that he had lived during the first two thirds. it’s from the season.
It worked. With the ball in his hands and secondary defenders to plot against, Poole found his mojo and, while Jones missed the final 16 games of the season due to a sprained back, he returned to the starting lineup at point guard and continued his play. strong.
“I was happy for him. I think everyone was happy for him. You could see him play with a little more joy, his spirit was coming back,” Jones said when asked how Poole’s presence affects the way he views his free agency. “…I don’t think he’s as black and white as putting the ball in his hand and that’s it or taking the ball out of my hand. I think he saw us coexisting.”
The Wizards agree, although both are undersized and neither is a particularly talented defender. Jones, by the way, does not foresee returning to the bench in his future.
“The plan is to be a starter,” he stated.
The Wizards own the rights to Jones’ Bird, which means they could go over the salary cap to re-sign him, which also means they have the flexibility to make him a more attractive offer than other teams in a potential sign-and-trade situation that would give them would return valuable value. capital project.
As they weigh that, Jones made his preference clear Monday.
“Anything can happen,” he said, “but [my family and I] “I love DC, we want to be here and I want to help this team continue to build and move in the right direction.”
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