NBA news: The Chicago Bulls have made some noteworthy moves in NBA free agency this summer, with perhaps none more significant than their success in extending the deals of Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu. You can’t win them all, though, as the Bulls have now lost a key rotation player from last season to Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks.
NBA News: Bulls Lose Derrick Jones Jr. to Mavs
NBA insider Shams Charania reported on Wednesday that Derrick Jones Jr. has decided to leave the Bulls after spending the last two seasons in Chicago. The 26-year-old has reportedly agreed to a single-season deal with the Mavs:
“Free agent F/C Derrick Jones Jr. has agreed to a one-year fully guaranteed deal with the Dallas Mavericks, his agent Aaron Turner of @VerusTeam told @TheAthletic @Stadium,” Shams wrote in his tweet.
In two years in Chicago, Jones averaged 5.3 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. He’s obviously no star, but the fact that he logged 15.6 minutes per contest over the past two seasons is a testament to the important role he plays for Chicago’s second unit.
The Bulls did sign Torrey Craig from the Phoenix Suns this summer, so perhaps the 6-foot-7 forward is the one who’s poised to take on Jones’ minutes now that the latter has moved on to greener pastures.
NBA News: Mavs Make More Moves in Free Agency
Derrick Jones Jr. will be Dallas’ seventh free agent signing this summer. Kyrie Irving sits at the very top of their list after the eight-time All-Star put pen to paper on a three-year extension worth $126 million. The Mavs also acquired Grant Williams from the Boston Celtics via a sign-and-trade deal, while also recruiting Seth Curry from the Brooklyn Nets. Dallas also renewed the deals of Dwight Powell, Justin Holiday, and Frank Ntilikina.
Jones won’t take the league by storm now that he’s with a new team, but he does give them an additional option in their frontcourt. The 6-foot-5 forward will likely sign a veteran’s minimum deal, or at least one that’s in that region, thereby making him a low-risk addition for the Mavs.
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