The Dallas Mavericks made it all the way to the NBA Finals thanks to a strong defense in the second half of the season. After acquiring P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford in a trade in February and inserting them into the starting lineup alongside Derrick Jones Jr., the Mavericks got a strong defense to pair with the impressive scoring duo of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
One of those starters is the Mavs’ only significant free agent and is expected to be in high demand this offseason.
Derrick Jones Jr. was the final member of the team to sign on a minimum contract in August, but wasn’t seen on a national level as someone who would make a difference to the team. He had the best season of his career in points and 3-point shooting while showing high athleticism with lob finishes, and it’s fair to say he was the team’s best perimeter defender. He was also popular in the locker room, and when you have superstars like Doncic and Irving, it’s important that they get people who are fun to be around.
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The Mavericks are limited in how much they can offer Jones to return next season, limited to just over $5 million under the taxpayer mid-level exception. They could also waive other contracts, such as Tim Hardaway Jr. and Maxi Kleber, to free up space, but Jones could seek a contract worth more than $10 million per year. One team that could be interested if they can’t come to an agreement with the Mavericks is the New York Knicks.
Fred Katz, who is in charge of the Knicks, Athletic, The Knicks may pivot to Jones if a deal with OG Anunoby doesn’t work out. “Jones doesn’t fill a current need, but the 27-year-old could work if the Knicks make a trade and want another forward. He’s been one of the biggest contributors to Dallas’ defense’s midseason turnaround. Jones will protect wings and big men. The Chicago Bulls once used him as a backup center, while his stints around Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving have made up for his shaky jump shot. But the Mavs may be too successful to let him go. Dallas [was] There’s a reason he led his team to a championship in the NBA Finals. He probably wouldn’t let a team take one of its starting wings and send him off to another team without a fight.”
Rumors have circulated that Anunoby was “not happy” with the retention offer he received from the Knicks this summer, so the Knicks may look to acquire a starting wing if they can’t come to terms with their prized free agent. Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle are on team-friendly contracts relative to the market, so they could be good free agents.
Jones has said publicly he wants to stay in Dallas, but business is business, and he hasn’t made enough money in his career to be able to afford to take a big pay cut in order to win. Teams can negotiate with free agents before free agency begins in a few weeks, so the Mavs could end the rumors before they start, but they’ll also need to get off some contracts.
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