Wizards Trade for PG Tyus Jones ‘Underrated Move’ From 2023 NBA Offseason
When Tyus Jones woke up the morning of June 23rd he was a projected starting point guard in the NBA for the Washington Wizards.
Jones has started 94 games in his eight NBA seasons, but his first with the Wizards will be the first he’s expected to be the guy at the distributor spot.
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While the move didn’t get a ton of press - some may not even remember Jones coming to Washington was part of the deal that sent forward/center Kristaps Porzingis to the Boston Celtics - NBA.com’s Brian Martin says this acquisition is one of the, “5 underrated moves from the NBA offseason.”
“While Kristaps Porzingis (to Boston) and Marcus Smart (to Memphis) were the marquee names in the three-team trade between the Celtics, Grizzlies and Wizards in late June, do not overlook the addition of Jones to the Wizards’ new-look backcourt alongside Jordan Poole,” Martin writes.
“Jones has already established himself as one of the top backup point guards in the league and now gets a chance at a starting gig in D.C.
“Last season, Jones started 22 games, averaging 16.4 points and 8.1 assists…Jones is a steady playmaker that doesn’t turn the ball over and can knock down 3-pointers at a 40% clip.”
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Those numbers alone would make Jones a top five scorer on the Wizards roster compared to last season, and he’d lead the team in assists per game by nearly three.
Clearly, his production as a backup outshined any production Washington got from starting point guards last season, not counting the times Bradley Beal - now with the Phoenix Suns - might initiate or lead the offensive distribution.
Poole may be the new star in town that everyone is watching to gauge how much potential this new Wizards roster really has, but it may just be Jones who surprises the most, and in a relative sense, increases optimism about the future more than any other on the team.
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