4:52pm: Philly and Minnesota are getting closer on a Jones deal, Keith Smith of Real GM tweets. Smith hears that the Wolves are looking for a big man in return.
SATURDAY, 3:08pm: The Sixers and Wolves are still involved in discussions regarding Jones, Wojnarowski tweets.
WEDNESDAY, 7:59pm: Several teams, including the Sixers and Pelicans, have expressed interest in Tyus Jones, Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical reports. Wojnarowski notes that the 20-year-old’s performance in summer league improved his stock with teams interested in him as a point guard off the bench.
The Wolves are more open to moving Jones than they are to moving Ricky Rubio in the short-term, sources tell Wojnarowski. The team is reluctant to move Rubio until rookie Kris Dunn is ready to take over the starting point guard spot.
Coach/executive Tom Thibodeau wants to immediately win games and contend for a playoff berth, as evidenced by his rotation choices during the preseason. Thibs has used 33-year-old veteran John Lucas in the guard rotation rather than relying solely on the team’s young talent. Lucas is on a non-guaranteed deal and his chances of making the team likely hinge on another point guard being traded.
Jones had a ho-hum rookie season for the Wolves, averaging 4.2 points and 2.9 assists in 15.5 minutes per game. He shot 30.2% from behind the arc and sported a 11.2 player efficiency rating.
“playoff birth”
It’s “berth”.
Yes it is. Fixed, thanks.
Assuming the Wolves get their desired “big man”…would that be Noel? Embiid, Simmons, Saric (if you want to consider him a big) are off the table. With Okafor’s poor D skills, I doubt Thibs would want him, so Noel makes the most sense. His pending free agency lowers his value a bit, so I imagine the Wolves would probably have to throw a second rounder or two/back of the rotation player.
You can’t trade okafor for jones bc they are boys with built in chemistry plus okafor has 4 yrs left on the underproportioned rookie contracts which give teams a massive advantage salary cap wise. So clearly it would be nerlens but that seems like a lot to give up for a backup pg straight up. Holmes or grant seem like more of a fit in terms of value but that doesn’t solve the nerlens vs okafor conundrum. Holmes is the cheap alternative to nerlens; who can replace the shot blocking, defense, energy, and finishing of nerlens to an extent. So trading him and keeping nerlens doesn’t make sense. Grant has some underrated upside but isn’t the “big man” the wolves are looking for I’m assuming.
If it’s going to be nerlens, I would make the wolves give up more than tyus Jones. Your solidifying their core roster with that trade as well as improving them in the near term with a guy whose ready to make a statement before his contract talks start. Sixers have damaged his value enough that you can sign him to a more team friendly deal. So even its tyus Jones plus secondary pieces, more likely than not twolves are winning a trade involving nerlens
Very nice thoughts and interesting as these are two young teams with tremendous potential. Personally, I think Philly might have more potential if Joel keeps healthy, although Towns is so special. Ben is going to shock the league especially if they can get a shooter at guard and having these bigs. It sounds to me as though Thibideau wants to trade Tyus (not as big a fan of him as others.) A very interesting situation.
Definitely Noel goes. Need more than just Jones back for Noel. Need a veteran NBA player back. Please no 2nd round pick. Trust the process
This is a back of the roster play. Richaun Holmes for Tyus Jones, I predict.
if they trade for Tyus it won’t be for Jahill as they have been close friends for years but I doubt if they would trade Noel straight up. Nehrlens will thrive off of Ben`s style.