With there being just over a month left of the regular season, teams have the opportunity to add players to their roster to help spark a playoff push. After the trade deadline earlier this month, multiple players' contracts were bought out and entered free agency. Some of those players included Cam Thomas and Lonzo Ball. There is one guard who was flipped around multiple times at the deadline who was just recently waived: Tyus Jones.
Jones was waived following eight games with the Dallas Mavericks. The veteran guard began the season with the Orlando Magic before being dealt twice this month. First, he was traded to the Charlotte Hornets along with two second-round picks for cash considerations and then was flipped to Dallas just a day later.
With Orlando, Jones was putting up the worst numbers of his decade-long career. Over the last few seasons, he established himself as a strong three-point shooter, posting percentages north of 40 percent during his tenures with the Washington Wizards and Phoenix Suns. The Magic were able to sign him to a relatively cheap veteran contract and his numbers plummeted. This season. Jones is averaging 3.1 points, 1.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.1 blocks per game while shooting a dismal 34.9 percent from the field.
Marc Stein reported Jones could join a playoff-caliber team after being waived just before Sunday's buyout deadline. The Miami Heat are one team currently fighting for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and could be a destination for the 29-year-old.
The Heat are a roster who have struggled with their backcourt play over the past few seasons due to both injuries and lack of efficiency. It started with the now-infamous trade for Terry Rozier midway through the 2023-24 season. Rozier had a solid season for the Heat that year but he quickly regressed last season before being arrested at the start of this campaign. Tyler Herro took on a larger scoring load and was named an All-Star last season but has missed most of this year with ankle and rib injuries although he recently returned to the lineup. Norman Powell, the team's leading scorer, recently suffered a groin injury that will sideline him at least one week if not more.
Taking a chance on Jones may not be a bad decision given the current outlook of the backcourt. Pelle Larsson and Kasparas Jakucionis have played well recently but both are young and haven't been given the opportunities to fully shine. Adding a veteran presence like Jones, and banking on him improving his shooting splits, could help this rotation.
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