Bulls forward Derrick Jones Jr. plans to decline his player option for 2023/24 to become an unrestricted free agent, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Jones signed a two-year, $6.56MM contract with Chicago last summer that includes an opt-out decision after year one. His option for ’23/24 is worth a guaranteed $3.36MM.
The move comes as something of a surprise, as the 26-year-old told K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago in April that he planned to pick up the option to stay with the Bulls.
“Like I told coach (Billy Donovan) and everybody else, I’m locked in for two years. I didn’t sign for two years for no reason. So I’m here for two years,” Jones said. “I just gotta sit down with my agent and talk to him, figure things out. But I don’t see why not. I got no other plans, yet.”
As Jones implied at the end of that statement, plans can change, especially as players get closer to free agency. He must be confident he can exceed his option as a free agent — it’s worth noting that a seven-year veteran like Jones would earn a projected $2.7MM on a veteran’s minimum contract.
The Bulls have Jones’ Bird rights if they want to re-sign him to a new contract.
Jones appeared in 64 games for the Bulls this past season, averaging 5.0 points and 2.4 rebounds and shooting .500/.338/.738 in 14.0 minutes per night. With the exception of his three-point percentage, those numbers were all down from the ones he posted during his first year in Chicago in ’21/22.
In fact, Jones’ minutes, points and rebounds were all down when compared to his previous four seasons after becoming a rotation regular with Miami in ’18/19. The high-flying Jones is known as a strong, versatile defensive player, though he doesn’t provide much scoring or play-making on the other end.
Jones isn’t the only Bull with a $3.36MM player option for 2023/24. As our list of free agents by team shows, veteran center Andre Drummond will have to make a decision on an identical option.
We’re tracking all of this year’s player option decisions right here.
Bulls win!
Let the trading begin!
Nice! Money off the books! Thanks DJ.
Money that won’t be spent
Probably signing with Phoenix.
Yup, Drummond should do the same thing. He can regain his value by averaging 10 and 15 for them.
He would be a pitch pick up for the Sun’s. He would be a run free can’t stop 3rd option on that crew.
I assume his lack of mins this year led to this. Another year like last year and he is out of the league
DeR to the >>>>>>> Knicks
Not gonna happen. They’re content to run the same old dead horse out of the barn for one more pathetic race.
You don’t really believe that. First DeR is on his last yr. They’re not going to resign him. Next Ball is out for the yr. Just makes sense to retool around LaVine. And get younger. Toppin and Quickley can start for Bulls. Both will be very good for the next ten yrs. With rumors about LaVine out there. Moving DeR is their best move.
Unfortunately, I do. In fact they’ve all but said it already.
Stop.
Am a Bulls fan. Disappointed if it is true that DJ Jones will decline his player option. $3.3 million for one more year seems like a good deal for the Bulls. DJ Jones is a good player to have for the rotation.
Smart man. Run. Run away. Run far. He obviously saw that the only way they were going to improve is if Reinsdorf eclipses the Luxury Tax which he lied about and said he would. Ain’t happening.
He seems to be giving up 660.000 dollars if he is going to Phoenix, as they probably won’t be allowed to sign him to more than the minimum salary.
Financially not the wisest move but maybe he just wants to contend.