Derrick Jones Jr. is leaving the Chicago Bulls for the Dallas Mavericks, according to NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.
Jones Jr. put up 5.0 points and 2.4 rebounds per game for the Bulls last season while shooting 50.0% overall, 33.8% from 3 and 73.8% from the free-throw line. The 26-year-old has career NBA averages of 6.3 points and 3.2 rebounds with the Phoenix Suns, Miami Heat, Portland Trail Blazers and Bulls.
The Mavericks have been busy this summer. They re-signed Kyrie Irving and Dwight Powell, signed Seth Curry and Dante Exum and acquired Grant Williams from the Boston Celtics and Richaun Holmes from the Sacramento Kings.
Dallas won only 38 games last season. The team didn’t even qualify for the play-in tournament after making the Western Conference Finals in 2022. The Mavericks were only 5-11 in games Luka Doncic and Irving played together. That was the worst winning percentage (.313) for a pair of teammates who were both All-Stars since the ABA-NBA merger in 1976-77, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Derrick Jones Jr., Chicago Bulls & Dallas Mavericks Updates
Doncic signed a five-year, $215.2 million designated rookie contract extension with the Mavericks in August 2021. The four-time All-Star averaged 32.4 points, 8.6 rebounds and 8.0 assists last season while shooting 49.6% from the field, 34.2% from beyond the arc and 74.2% from the free-throw line. Doncic recorded 36 double-doubles and 10 triple-doubles in 66 games.
The Mavericks have talked with Doncic about decreasing his preferred playing weight this summer, according to NBA reporter Tim Cato of The Athletic. Doncic was listed at 230 pounds last season.
“The Mavericks’ key figures have talked to Doncic about decreasing his preferred playing weight this summer,” Cato wrote. “Doncic also stopped having fun for long stretches of the past two seasons, the first time in his life I think that’s ever been true for the sport he’s devoted his life to.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Derrick Jones Jr., Chicago Bulls & Dallas Mavericks Updates
If Dallas doesn’t compete for a championship next season, rumors about Doncic wanting out could heat up. Doncic said, “Something’s got to change for sure” during his end-of-the-season press conference.
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