This story was originally published by Dead Spin
The Phoenix Suns, looking for a point guard to run an offense led by three All-Stars, have agreed to a one-year contract with free agent Tyus Jones, ESPN reported on Saturday.
Citing Jones’ agent, ESPN said the deal is for $3.3 million. The Suns had only the veterans minimum available to offer Jones.
After finishing sixth in the Western Conference, the Suns were swept out of the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves. In a microcosm of the regular season, Devin Booker (27.5 ppg), Kevin Durant (26.8) and Bradley Beal (16.5) averaged more than 70 combined points in the series, but no other player averaged more than eight.
The team’s next-best guards, Eric Gordon and Grayson Allen, are shooting guards, leaving the team with a major hole at the point.
Jones, the best free agent point guard remaining on the market, averaged 12.0 points and 7.3 assists over 66 games for the Washington Wizards last season. He had spent the previous four seasons with Memphis.
The 28-year-old Jones was taken with the 24th overall pick by Cleveland in the 2015 draft, then sent to Minnesota on a draft-night trade. Jones spent the first four seasons of his career with the Timberwolves, averaging 5.1 points and 3.3 assists.
Over his nine-year career, Jones is averaging 7.4 points and 4.3 assists over 20.4 minutes per game.
–Field Level Media
