Tyus Jones Took Less From Suns To Start For A Contender

[RealGM Wiretap]

When he decided to sign with the Phoenix Suns, Tyus Jones took less money than was offered elsewhere. Jones ultimately decided that the opportunity to start for a contender was worth more than cashing in as a free agent.

The New York Knicks had made Jones a two-year, $10 million offer. He also had at least one other offer that was far larger than the Knicks proposal. Jones and his former team, the Washington Wizards, had also discussed sign-and-trade scenarios. The veteran point guard and the Wizards also had conversations about him signing a deal and being traded by the 2025 trade deadline. All of these scenarios would have seen Jones making more than the veteran minimum contract he has with Phoenix.

Jones is expected to start for the Suns, who are retooling after starting much of last season without a traditional point guard. Phoenix is expected to start Jones alongside Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic.

Via Ian Begley/SNY

[pushfloater]

How is Beal going to feel coming off the bench

[puja21]

How is Beal going to feel coming off the bench

Nurk
KD
Beal
Booker
Jones

Grayson off bench

[elmdawgg69]

This sounds like a lie his agent is putting out to save his ass from getting fired. Yes, he did get a contract far larger than what the Knicks offered at $5 mil per season, but he rejected that very early in free agency thinking he’d get a higher offer elsewhere. So he settled for the most money he could get on the best team who could start him.

[PoundTown]

How is Beal going to feel coming off the bench

Nurk
KD
Beal
Booker
Jones

Grayson off bench

This team will be good. Royce off bench is only real big wing defender, but they will be very hard to stop from scoring. Will they have enough defense and rebounding to make it work is the question. Getting some point guards was a good move.

[pushfloater]

How is Beal going to feel coming off the bench

Nurk
KD
Beal
Booker
Jones

Grayson off bench

That lineup will give up as many points as they score

[Roy T]

Dude got schrödered.

[levon]

Who wants to tell him?

[Pickled Prunes]

How is Beal going to feel coming off the bench

Nurk
KD
Beal
Booker
Jones

Grayson off bench

That lineup will give up as many points as they score

No it won't. Booker will probably be listed as their SF, not that it matters. That is one of the best starting five's in the NBA. Their biggest question is size. The bench is improved but they can't really go big, or even medium big. Other than rookies/scrubs, KD is their only non-center that is bigger than Booker. Plumlee is listed as a PF but he's a center; you definitely don't want him on the floor with Nurkic. They are going to be running a bunch of lineups with <6-6 PF's. Not awesome.

I expect for their starting lineup to destroy teams and for their bench to get trucked!

[Thechicagorilla]

Nurk
KD
Beal
Booker
Jones

Grayson off bench

That lineup will give up as many points as they score

No it won't. Booker will probably be listed as their SF, not that it matters. That is one of the best starting five's in the NBA. Their biggest question is size. The bench is improved but they can't really go big, or even medium big. Other than rookies/scrubs, KD is their only non-center that is bigger than Booker. Plumlee is listed as a PF but he's a center; you definitely don't want him on the floor with Nurkic. They are going to be running a bunch of lineups with <6-6 PF's. Not awesome.

I expect for their starting lineup to destroy teams and for their bench to get trucked!

That still doesn’t negate from the fact that they will give up as many points as they score lol. They haven’t improved defensively at all, not having a pg wasn’t holding them back, it was the lack of depth size and defense. Booker was just fine as the primary ball handler

[niha17]

That team is not a contender sorry to tell you

[Pickled Prunes]

That lineup will give up as many points as they score

No it won't. Booker will probably be listed as their SF, not that it matters. That is one of the best starting five's in the NBA. Their biggest question is size. The bench is improved but they can't really go big, or even medium big. Other than rookies/scrubs, KD is their only non-center that is bigger than Booker. Plumlee is listed as a PF but he's a center; you definitely don't want him on the floor with Nurkic. They are going to be running a bunch of lineups with <6-6 PF's. Not awesome.

I expect for their starting lineup to destroy teams and for their bench to get trucked!

That still doesn’t negate from the fact that they will give up as many points as they score lol. They haven’t improved defensively at all, not having a pg wasn’t holding them back, it was the lack of depth size and defense. Booker was just fine as the primary ball handler

Me saying "no it won't" was all the rebuttal needed. PHX had a positive (3.1) Net rating last season as a team. That was 8th in the NBA. The starting lineup had the 7th best Net Rating and they improved. That lineup will not "give up as many points as they score".

Bottom line: If you think that starting lineup is getting outscored you're nuts!

You are right that depth and size held them back. Depth has been addressed but size has not. If you read my post (that you responded to) you might notice that I mentioned that. Booker was fine but that doesn't mean PG wasn't an issue for them. It was and they addressed it.

[AwesomeLife]

Tyus Jones is a 8-12min bench role player at best, who was probably fishing for money or his agent was and they failed miserably, so they act like they joined a contendor. Don't know whats the big fuss about, but Suns are not a contendor team, Beal is a 3rd option scorer with questionable defense who is getting paid main superstar money absolutely demolishing their cap space and roster possibilities, Suns shot themselves in the foot getting him, probably twice cuz he can't be traded as well, this is the worst trade after Westbrook, actually kinda on par cuz it was possible to trade Westbrook away even tho it was hard. Booker wasting his prime and KD wasting his last good years on that disfunctional team, don't know who's idea was to get Beal, but they basically doomed this team for 3 years last year. Don't know where is this superior offense when they don't have a good center nor a good point guard nor a good physical guy who can penetrate at will or a dunker to catch lobs, that team is not hard to defend in the playoffs, because its not versatile, you close the perimeter and they don't outscore you. They are 6-7 seed and 1st round exit again or 2nd at best, but I won't be suprised if they lose 2 play-in games as 7-8seed.

[pushfloater]

Tyus Jones is a 8-12min bench role player at best, who was probably fishing for money or his agent was and they failed miserably, so they act like they joined a contendor. Don't know whats the big fuss about, but Suns are not a contendor team, Beal is a 3rd option scorer with questionable defense who is getting paid main superstar money absolutely demolishing their cap space and roster possibilities, Suns shot themselves in the foot getting him, probably twice cuz he can't be traded as well, this is the worst trade after Westbrook, actually kinda on par cuz it was possible to trade Westbrook away even tho it was hard. Booker wasting his prime and KD wasting his last good years on that disfunctional team, don't know who's idea was to get Beal, but they basically doomed this team for 3 years last year. Don't know where is this superior offense when they don't have a good center nor a good point guard nor a good physical guy who can penetrate at will or a dunker to catch lobs, that team is not hard to defend in the playoffs, because its not versatile, you close the perimeter and they don't outscore you. They are 6-7 seed and 1st round exit again or 2nd at best, but I won't be suprised if they lose 2 play-in games as 7-8seed.

Look at his stats. Have you seen him play? He is on the smaller side, but is a very efficient player. He will do well for them, but they haven’t addressed their biggest issues.

But I agree with most of what you said. This roster is discombobulated because of Beal.

[pushfloater]

No it won't. Booker will probably be listed as their SF, not that it matters. That is one of the best starting five's in the NBA. Their biggest question is size. The bench is improved but they can't really go big, or even medium big. Other than rookies/scrubs, KD is their only non-center that is bigger than Booker. Plumlee is listed as a PF but he's a center; you definitely don't want him on the floor with Nurkic. They are going to be running a bunch of lineups with <6-6 PF's. Not awesome.

I expect for their starting lineup to destroy teams and for their bench to get trucked!

That still doesn’t negate from the fact that they will give up as many points as they score lol. They haven’t improved defensively at all, not having a pg wasn’t holding them back, it was the lack of depth size and defense. Booker was just fine as the primary ball handler

Me saying "no it won't" was all the rebuttal needed. PHX had a positive (3.1) Net rating last season as a team. That was 8th in the NBA. The starting lineup had the 7th best Net Rating and they improved. That lineup will not "give up as many points as they score".

Bottom line: If you think that starting lineup is getting outscored you're nuts!

You are right that depth and size held them back. Depth has been addressed but size has not. If you read my post (that you responded to) you might notice that I mentioned that. Booker was fine but that doesn't mean PG wasn't an issue for them. It was and they addressed it.

You keep saying a whole lot of nothing. How have they fixed their defense?

[puja21]

Tyus Jones is a 8-12min bench role player at best, who was probably fishing for money or his agent was and they failed miserably, so they act like they joined a contendor. Don't know whats the big fuss about, but Suns are not a contendor team, Beal is a 3rd option scorer with questionable defense who is getting paid main superstar money absolutely demolishing their cap space and roster possibilities, Suns shot themselves in the foot getting him, probably twice cuz he can't be traded as well, this is the worst trade after Westbrook, actually kinda on par cuz it was possible to trade Westbrook away even tho it was hard. Booker wasting his prime and KD wasting his last good years on that disfunctional team, don't know who's idea was to get Beal, but they basically doomed this team for 3 years last year. Don't know where is this superior offense when they don't have a good center nor a good point guard nor a good physical guy who can penetrate at will or a dunker to catch lobs, that team is not hard to defend in the playoffs, because its not versatile, you close the perimeter and they don't outscore you. They are 6-7 seed and 1st round exit again or 2nd at best, but I won't be suprised if they lose 2 play-in games as 7-8seed.

Look at his stats. Have you seen him play? He is on the smaller side, but is a very efficient player. He will do well for them, but they haven’t addressed their biggest issues.

But I agree with most of what you said. This roster is discombobulated because of Beal.

yeah this was a bad assessment

Tyus had an incredible assist to tov ratio

He's got a great chance thrive offensively in this role

[AwesomeLife]

Tyus Jones is a 8-12min bench role player at best, who was probably fishing for money or his agent was and they failed miserably, so they act like they joined a contendor. Don't know whats the big fuss about, but Suns are not a contendor team, Beal is a 3rd option scorer with questionable defense who is getting paid main superstar money absolutely demolishing their cap space and roster possibilities, Suns shot themselves in the foot getting him, probably twice cuz he can't be traded as well, this is the worst trade after Westbrook, actually kinda on par cuz it was possible to trade Westbrook away even tho it was hard. Booker wasting his prime and KD wasting his last good years on that disfunctional team, don't know who's idea was to get Beal, but they basically doomed this team for 3 years last year. Don't know where is this superior offense when they don't have a good center nor a good point guard nor a good physical guy who can penetrate at will or a dunker to catch lobs, that team is not hard to defend in the playoffs, because its not versatile, you close the perimeter and they don't outscore you. They are 6-7 seed and 1st round exit again or 2nd at best, but I won't be suprised if they lose 2 play-in games as 7-8seed.

Look at his stats. Have you seen him play? He is on the smaller side, but is a very efficient player. He will do well for them, but they haven’t addressed their biggest issues.

But I agree with most of what you said. This roster is discombobulated because of Beal.

yeah this was a bad assessment

Tyus had an incredible assist to tov ratio

He's got a great chance thrive offensively in this role

I don't disagree with you, but you might be missing my point. Look at Tyus's stats and the teams he played for, he would be a 8-12min bench player on any team that has a semi-decent pointguard. He can be a good backup pointguard for around 8-12min and I am not hating on the guy, but he is not big minutes starting player on a good team and this will be very easy to see. He should've joined the Knicks and be a backup for Brunson for 2yr 10mil would've been great for him, they would've cared to keep him as well and he would've actually make them better in that role, but if Tyus starts for the Suns he will struggle to run the offence, he will struggle to contribute and especially to defend, because they were already an undersized and bad defensive team before he joined, he is not moving the needle in the right direction for them imho, unless they start someone else and he comes in for booker/beal, which will eventually probably be the case after a few games. This Suns team if they exit first round again or fail to make the playoffs they will probably lose Booker or KD or both of them and if they start rebuilding I don't think they will bet on Tyus. This is a make or break season for the Suns imho. My point about Tyus is if he ever breaks out like Brunson did or remotely close that won't be on a team with 3 superstars, on a team like that there is a bigger chance he deminishes his game and value rather than increasing it and this Suns team is far away from a contendor, so if he was searching to increase his value or to contend for a chip he failed at both joining the Suns. I won't repeat what I said about the Suns already, I stand by it, I would be happy to be proven wrong if it happens, I'm not hating on them its just that what doesn't work on that team is easy to see from miles away and they don't have the cap space to fix it, cuz of Beal, thats all.

[Pickled Prunes]

That still doesn’t negate from the fact that they will give up as many points as they score lol. They haven’t improved defensively at all, not having a pg wasn’t holding them back, it was the lack of depth size and defense. Booker was just fine as the primary ball handler

Me saying "no it won't" was all the rebuttal needed. PHX had a positive (3.1) Net rating last season as a team. That was 8th in the NBA. The starting lineup had the 7th best Net Rating and they improved. That lineup will not "give up as many points as they score".

Bottom line: If you think that starting lineup is getting outscored you're nuts!

You are right that depth and size held them back. Depth has been addressed but size has not. If you read my post (that you responded to) you might notice that I mentioned that. Booker was fine but that doesn't mean PG wasn't an issue for them. It was and they addressed it.

You keep saying a whole lot of nothing. How have they fixed their defense?

I think you guys might have issues with reading comprehension.

In the post that I originally responded to, you said:

That lineup will give up as many points as they score

My response was "no it won't". I followed that up by pointing out the size issues that they will have with their bench rotation, which are mostly defensive. I never said or even implied that they were better defensively.

Your statement was exclusively about the starting lineup; it wasn't true last season (not even almost) and the lineup improved. Your statement didn't actually have anything to do with defense. It was a statement about math. (PPG-OPPG) They don't need to improve defensively to make your statement false. Feel free to track the starting lineup's Net Rating throughout the season and get back to me if it's in the negative.

[puja21]

Look at his stats. Have you seen him play? He is on the smaller side, but is a very efficient player. He will do well for them, but they haven’t addressed their biggest issues.

But I agree with most of what you said. This roster is discombobulated because of Beal.

yeah this was a bad assessment

Tyus had an incredible assist to tov ratio

He's got a great chance thrive offensively in this role

I don't disagree with you, but you might be missing my point. Look at Tyus's stats and the teams he played for, he would be a 8-12min bench player on any team that has a semi-decent pointguard. He can be a good backup pointguard for around 8-12min and I am not hating on the guy, but he is not big minutes starting player on a good team and this will be very easy to see. He should've joined the Knicks and be a backup for Brunson for 2yr 10mil would've been great for him, they would've cared to keep him as well and he would've actually make them better in that role, but if Tyus starts for the Suns he will struggle to run the offence, he will struggle to contribute and especially to defend, because they were already an undersized and bad defensive team before he joined, he is not moving the needle in the right direction for them imho, unless they start someone else and he comes in for booker/beal, which will eventually probably be the case after a few games. This Suns team if they exit first round again or fail to make the playoffs they will probably lose Booker or KD or both of them and if they start rebuilding I don't think they will bet on Tyus. This is a make or break season for the Suns imho. My point about Tyus is if he ever breaks out like Brunson did or remotely close that won't be on a team with 3 superstars, on a team like that there is a bigger chance he deminishes his game and value rather than increasing it and this Suns team is far away from a contendor, so if he was searching to increase his value or to contend for a chip he failed at both joining the Suns. I won't repeat what I said about the Suns already, I stand by it, I would be happy to be proven wrong if it happens, I'm not hating on them its just that what doesn't work on that team is easy to see from miles away and they don't have the cap space to fix it, cuz of Beal, thats all.

RE: "if he ever breaks out like Brunson did or remotely close"

There is a massive gap between an 8-12 min bench player and Jalen Brunson (all NBA, top-5 MVP candidate, 2nd in the league for PG minutes to Coby White).

Of the 75 point guards who played 400 minutes last year, only 3 of them averaged <12 mpg:
Skylar Mays 11.4 mpg
Jordan McLaughlin 11.2 mpg
Jaden Springer 10.4 mpg

He doesn't need to become Luka, SGA, or Brunson etc to be a massive success in PHX and a winning player.

He needs to be someone like TJ McConnell, Malcom Brogdon, Ish Smith from 8-10 years ago, prime Rubio, even Greivis Vasquez. Derek Fisher. Maybe 2008 Rondo. Distribute the ball to the scorers in their spots, play positional defense, and knock down open looks.

That's all they need him to do to be successful.

If he does that and the Suns fail it will be because of injuries to the stars or their inability to fit together or play defense.

Suns live & die w/ their Big3.

Jones is critical bc of their salary issues and the CBA, but no one is expecting a breakout on par with Brunson (I hope)

[AwesomeLife]

yeah this was a bad assessment

Tyus had an incredible assist to tov ratio

He's got a great chance thrive offensively in this role

I don't disagree with you, but you might be missing my point. Look at Tyus's stats and the teams he played for, he would be a 8-12min bench player on any team that has a semi-decent pointguard. He can be a good backup pointguard for around 8-12min and I am not hating on the guy, but he is not big minutes starting player on a good team and this will be very easy to see. He should've joined the Knicks and be a backup for Brunson for 2yr 10mil would've been great for him, they would've cared to keep him as well and he would've actually make them better in that role, but if Tyus starts for the Suns he will struggle to run the offence, he will struggle to contribute and especially to defend, because they were already an undersized and bad defensive team before he joined, he is not moving the needle in the right direction for them imho, unless they start someone else and he comes in for booker/beal, which will eventually probably be the case after a few games. This Suns team if they exit first round again or fail to make the playoffs they will probably lose Booker or KD or both of them and if they start rebuilding I don't think they will bet on Tyus. This is a make or break season for the Suns imho. My point about Tyus is if he ever breaks out like Brunson did or remotely close that won't be on a team with 3 superstars, on a team like that there is a bigger chance he deminishes his game and value rather than increasing it and this Suns team is far away from a contendor, so if he was searching to increase his value or to contend for a chip he failed at both joining the Suns. I won't repeat what I said about the Suns already, I stand by it, I would be happy to be proven wrong if it happens, I'm not hating on them its just that what doesn't work on that team is easy to see from miles away and they don't have the cap space to fix it, cuz of Beal, thats all.

RE: "if he ever breaks out like Brunson did or remotely close"

There is a massive gap between an 8-12 min bench player and Jalen Brunson (all NBA, top-5 MVP candidate, 2nd in the league for PG minutes to Coby White).

Of the 75 point guards who played 400 minutes last year, only 3 of them averaged <12 mpg:
Skylar Mays 11.4 mpg
Jordan McLaughlin 11.2 mpg
Jaden Springer 10.4 mpg

He doesn't need to become Luka, SGA, or Brunson etc to be a massive success in PHX and a winning player.

He needs to be someone like TJ McConnell, Malcom Brogdon, Ish Smith from 8-10 years ago, prime Rubio, even Greivis Vasquez. Derek Fisher. Maybe 2008 Rondo. Distribute the ball to the scorers in their spots, play positional defense, and knock down open looks.

That's all they need him to do to be successful.

If he does that and the Suns fail it will be because of injuries to the stars or their inability to fit together or play defense.

Suns live & die w/ their Big3.

Jones is critical bc of their salary issues and the CBA, but no one is expecting a breakout on par with Brunson (I hope)

I'm being a little critical, ofc I agree with most of what you are saying, but I'm just saying that Jones is expected to be a main point guard, they are expecting him to be on the floor, have positive +-, run their offense and etc, he absolutely should take a lesser role or it would be a disaster. Imho they need a 2nd tyus jones and when one is not playing well to play the other, this team does not have the luxury to have a bad point guard or non existent one or a bench/role player trying to be a starter. Especially because of what that will cost them on the defensive end as well. They just need a decent backup for Jones or someone slightly better than him and Tuys being a backup. They will def suck on defense again, so maybe someone decent on that end will be a good idea. Jones is not a bad player, but him on his own doesn't move the needle in the positive direction imho.