The Clippers are signing free agent forward Derrick Jones to a three-year, $30MM contract, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Sources tell Kelly Iko of The Athletic that the agreement is fully guaranteed with no player or team option. Jones will also receive a 5% trade kicker, Iko adds (via Twitter).
It’s possible that Jones could be acquired in a sign-and-trade, but if not, Los Angeles will use most of its non-taxpayer mid-level exception to complete the deal. Either scenario will hard cap the Clips at the first tax apron, which is set at $178.1MM.
After playing a fairly modest role off the bench with Chicago from 2021-23, the high-flying Jones was one of the NBA’s best bargains last season while on a minimum-salary contract with the Mavericks. He started 66 of his 76 regular games with Dallas in 2023/24, averaging 8.3 PPG and 3.3 RPG on .483/.343/.713 shooting.
Jones was a key role player as the Mavs advanced to the NBA Finals, averaging 9.1 PPG, 3.5 RPG and 1.0 BPG on .481/.369/.733 shooting in 22 postseason contests (29.4 MPG). He was frequently tasked with defending opposing teams’ top scorers.
A former undrafted free agent who played one year of college ball at UNLV, Jones has made previous stops with Phoenix, Miami and Portland in addition to Chicago and Dallas. The 27-year-old won the dunk contest back in 2020.
Jones’ free agency was supposed to be complicated by the fact that he recently changed agents, but evidently that didn’t stop him or his representatives from working out a deal with the Clips. The Mavericks reached a three-year, $27MM deal with free agent wing Naji Marshall before Jones’ deal with L.A. was reported.
Ironically, while Marshall was reportedly a fallback option in case Jones left Dallas, Jones himself is a consolation prize of sorts for the Clippers, who are losing Paul George. The nine-time All-Star is expected to sign a four-year max contract with the Sixers.
I’m gonna kms
Derrick Jones Jr. will be able to replace Paul George defensively because he can guard four different positions. 3 years $30 million is a great deal for him.
Great, great pick up for the clippers!
DJJ is a great pick up, only if the coach properly utilize him – he’s a best served as switchy defense upfront and isn’t a corner three guy on offense.
The HEAT, MAVS got this ……. BLAZERS, BULLS did not.
Good on DJJ. He finally got that long sought payday.
If he’s not a corner 3 on offense, what is he? He can’t shoot off the dribble, he can’t post up. He’s a lob threat and a spot up 3 point shooter. His value is on defense. Coming from a heartbroken Mavs fan.
DJJ’s a rover on offense. No plays will be called for him, he can hit the occasional three, but not from the corners.
BLAZERS did not have a clue, just got him camping on corners.
Do you watch nba games ever. This kid is primary a corner 3 shooter. Gets overwhelmed on d by bigger 3s. My God son think before you embarrass yourself. Absolutely need a censor .
As a mavs fan, I’m jealous. I mich rather have djj than naji marshall
And for what they are paying Marshall, they definitely could have signed DJJ for the contract he got with the Clippers.
I’m guessing when Klay became available, he stopped being the priority Harrison said he was in the beginning of the season. Mavs are putting to many eggs in the Klay basket imo.
Why because they have dollars to sign him now? Thanks Einstein.
I think Naji has a lot more room to grow. DJJ is better defensively but Naji I think playing off a real point guard, in a pick and roll heavy offence will have plenty of open looks and his point per game and shooting numbers will look great. Defensively he doesn’t have the hop but he’s got more size.
I think Naji is actually a really good pick up.
He was sharing minutes behind Ingram Zion Trey and Herb, without a real point guard cause CJ for most his career was a SG and even last year he was playing more off ball and they allowed Ingram to be the facilitator. In that small amount of time, in those circumstances, he put up decent little numbers. As a potential starter playing off Luka and Kyrie, he’s going to thrive.
However I’d still like to see the Mavs go after a real SF like Wiggins or Barnes to fill the gap and have Naji as the first wing back up
Going to miss DJJ!
Good pickup, but I can’t understand why he choose the Clippers of all teams. Jones is a good role player but he isn’t moving the needle on the Clippers playoff/title hopes, unless they have something else in the works.
L.A.
Personally, I can think of 30 million different reasons he chose the Clippers.
Always love seeing UDFAs succeed even more so when they get paid this is awesome for the clippers
I’m not sure if Naji’s defense stacks up to DJ’s, but I think his offensive ceiling is higher. Plus, he can create his own shot better than DJ could.
As this moment
Clippers team payroll
$164 million
Warriors team payroll
$144 million
Now just sign Derozen, cause that’s the only way Harden stays.
Why did the Mavs let him go? 3/30 is not that expensive
Harden has already signed haha