PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns could be looking to make one more splash in the free agency market this offseason.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!According to Arizona Sports‘ John Gambadoro on X, “there is a real chance” of the Suns landing free agent point guard Tyus Jones.
Gambadoro added: “Could happen very quickly if Jones would be willing to take less money than what he could get with a couple of other teams. Suns culture, playing time and chance to win may convince him.”
I hear there is a real chance at landing Tyus Jones & that would be a HUGE win for the Suns. Could happen very quickly if Jones would be willing to take less money than what he could get with a couple of other teams. Suns culture, playing time and chance to win may convince him. https://t.co/0WtPqA6Qe2
— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) July 27, 2024
After acquiring E.J. Liddell from the Atlanta Hawks yesterday in exchange for David Roddy, the Suns roster still stands at 15 players. However, Gambadoro reported that he doubts Liddell makes the final roster.
Roddy wasn’t going to make the Suns final roster and I doubt Liddell does either. https://t.co/PKo3VNK0cv
— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) July 26, 2024
The 6-foot-1 Jones, who averaged a career-best 12.0 points per game and 7.3 assists while being a full-time starter in his first season with the Washington Wizards last season, would have to sign with Phoenix on a veteran-minimum contract worth around $3 million. The Suns are operating over the second tax apron and aren’t able to sign incoming free agents to anything else other than a veteran minimum.
This would be a big drop off in contracts for the 28-year-old Jones who is coming off a two-year, $29 million deal signed with the Memphis Grizzlies at the beginning of the 2022 season.
Jones quickly developed into one of the top backup point guards in the league during his time in Memphis from 2019-23 before being traded to Washington last June. He was drafted 24th overall in 2015 by the Cleveland Cavaliers and then traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves on draft night. He spent his first four years in Minnesota before signing with Memphis in 2019 and has played over 60 games in eight straight seasons after his rookie year.
In total, Jones has played in 601 career games (160 starts) and averaged 7.4 points, 4.3 assists to only 0.8 turnovers and 1.0 steals across his nine NBA seasons. He has also played in 27 career playoff games, including a 12-game stretch for Memphis in the 2022 playoffs in which he averaged 9.2 points, 4.5 assists and 1.2 steals.
The Suns have already signed Monte Morris this offseason, filling a backup point guard position they did not have to end last season. Now if Phoenix lands Jones, it could suddenly go from no points guards to two very servicable, low-turnover ones who were arguably two of the top backups in the league just 2-3 years ago.
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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau
