Tre Jones

[drosestruts]

I feel like we haven't discussed Tre Jones enough here - and what everyone's preferences are come this summer. Along with Giddey, he's our other big free agent.

We are a guard-heavy team, and we are walking into the offseason with 12 players currently under contract.

But Jones is 25 years-old and honestly, played pretty great for us in 18 games before succumbing to injury.

11.5/3/5 in 25 minutes a night. Had a 5:1 assists to turnover ratio and a 64.7% TS%

Tre started 9 games with the Bulls and in those games he average 15/5/7 and improved his assist to turnover ratio to 6:1 while maintaining his 64% TS%

Takes 32% of his shots at the rim and converts 67% of shots from 0-3 feet - love his ability to attack the rim and convert at a high-clip

Watch on YouTube

I don't know if it's the best use of our limited money or limited roster space, but I also feel like we shouldn't give up on a 25 year old who played this well for us.

I also have no clue what the future holds for players like Coby and Ayo who are both expiring, and Lonzo would could be traded.


Do people here want to re-sign Jones? What are your thoughts?

[League Circles]

I like him, but with Giddey, Coby, Ayo, Ball and Carter under contract, I think it would probably be a mistake to retain him unless someone is traded or we can get him on a 1 year deal. He'll probably be a casualty of circumstance. Keeping too many guys will necessarily decrease the trade value of some of them, which should be prioritized to avoid.

[nomorezorro]

i think it would be silly not to try to re-sign him. he looked like a perfect fit for the style we tapped into at the end of last season and helps ensure we can still play the same way even with giddey on the bench

coby/lonzo/ayo are all extremely moveable pieces, and also jones could absolutely play alongside all three of them. i would personally try to trade ayo if you can get a decent return to create better roster balance, but there are a lot of different moves that could be made that have the same effect. we're in a place where talent retention is more important than fretting too much about how all the pieces fit. (not saying that we shouldn't care about fit at all, but dropping jones to sign a mediocre C or whatever isn't really doing anything for the long-term prospects of this team)

[Chi town]

To play Billy ball PG play is the of the utmost importance. Ayo and Coby are not PG’s. Giddey Zo and Tre are all excellent playing fast. Tre is also an elite defender against PGs. No way Herro goes off in the play in if we had even one of Tre Zo Ayo healthy.

Sounds crazy but I think it depends on our pick. If we pick Demin then you don’t keep Tre. He’d be our backup PG and there wouldn’t be enough mins.

Tre is also elite at rim pressure and finishing. He gets lots of easy baskets attacking the rim and cutting.

Zo/Tre
Coby/Ayo
Giddey/Huerter
Buz/Pat
Collins/Smith

That’s a deep young veteran team.

[League Circles]

To play Billy ball PG play is the of the utmost importance. Ayo and Coby are not PG’s. Giddey Zo and Tre are all excellent playing fast. Tre is also an elite defender against PGs. No way Herro goes off in the play in if we had even one of Tre Zo Ayo healthy.

Sounds crazy but I think it depends on our pick. If we pick Demin then you don’t keep Tre. He’d be our backup PG and there wouldn’t be enough mins.

Tre is also elite at rim pressure and finishing. He gets lots of easy baskets attacking the rim and cutting.

Zo/Tre
Coby/Ayo
Giddey/Huerter
Buz/Pat
Collins/Smith

That’s a deep young veteran team.

Where is our #12? Wherever our draftee plays, it will very likely be a regular rotation spot IMO.

I can't see Ball starting tbh.

Vuc may be traded but very unlikely he gets traded for zero rotation players coming back.

I just don't see the playing time for this.

[HomoSapien]

I've always liked Ayo, but I think I like Jones more.

[Chi town]

I've always liked Ayo, but I think I like Jones more.

I would agree with that for the way we want to play we need a PG.

However, I think Ayo will be a blur next to real PG’s in Tre Zo Giddey. Tons of easy transition dunks and 3s.

[sco]

I've always liked Ayo, but I think I like Jones more.

I would agree with that for the way we want to play we need a PG.

However, I think Ayo will be a blur next to real PG’s in Tre Zo Giddey. Tons of easy transition dunks and 3s.

I agree.

That said, I look at getting Tre as giving us the ability to trade both of Ball and Ayo for other needs. I assume the team is exploring those options to see if there are any. Look, if there are none, then maybe we don't, but if we could somehow turn Ball into Gafford for example, then getting Tre really solidifies our line-up. I'm sure there'll be interest. The other Xfactor is if we draft Demin, who is a "PG" (not my choice, but the rumor is there).

Right now, I see the chances of the Bulls retaining Jones at about 30%.

[Jvaughn]

I loved Tre last year. Was my least favorite piece to come over in the trade because I didnt see any minutes for him, but with injuries he was able to carve out a really nice role. That being said, on a healthy Bulls team, I don't see how he finds minutes. Would love to have him back, but he's a luxury we probably can't afford.

[League Circles]

Worth noting that barring an unlikely consolidation trade or Carter surprisingly opting out, we will have to choose between Jones and our #45 pick.

I normally scoff at the value of 2nd round picks, but I'd rather take another shot at a very long shot special player. Maybe Zikarsky or somebody will be available at #45. I'd rather have somebody like that than commit to a multi year deal with a backup guard.

[jump]

I say find a way to keep him. He gives something we have needed but have not had for several years. Send Carter off with Vuc. Maybe move Ayo as well, even thought I’ve always been an Ayo fan. Lonzo might go or be hurt.

[sco]

Worth noting that barring an unlikely consolidation trade or Carter surprisingly opting out, we will have to choose between Jones and our #45 pick.

I normally scoff at the value of 2nd round picks, but I'd rather take another shot at a very long shot special player. Maybe Zikarsky or somebody will be available at #45. I'd rather have somebody like that than commit to a multi year deal with a backup guard.

Good point. I want us to use #45 to optimistically get rid of one of Vuc or Carter. Otherwise, just using him as a 2-way is the probable path...which is fine.

[TheJordanRule]

This thread is fire, and made me realize that I want Coby AND Carter dealt.

[pipfan]

Would BRK take Ayo for the #27 into cap space?
He'd be a great starter with Cam Thomas

Bulls then free up $/minutes for TJones. I like him

[sco]

Would BRK take Ayo for the #27 into cap space?
He'd be a great starter with Cam Thomas

Bulls then free up $/minutes for TJones. I like him

Sure, but I think BKN would benefit even more by just signing Tre. But I'm 100% with you.

[League Circles]

Worth noting that barring an unlikely consolidation trade or Carter surprisingly opting out, we will have to choose between Jones and our #45 pick.

I normally scoff at the value of 2nd round picks, but I'd rather take another shot at a very long shot special player. Maybe Zikarsky or somebody will be available at #45. I'd rather have somebody like that than commit to a multi year deal with a backup guard.

Good point. I want us to use #45 to optimistically get rid of one of Vuc or Carter. Otherwise, just using him as a 2-way is the probable path...which is fine.

There's no chance we can trade anyone without similar money and likely equal or more roster spots coming back IMO. Nobody will absorb somebody like Vuc or Carter into cap space just for a 2nd rounder, and IIRC there are basically no teams with cap space.

Besides, while I don't want Vuc or Carter, I'd rather completely bench them than give up even a small asset to move them.

[sco]

Worth noting that barring an unlikely consolidation trade or Carter surprisingly opting out, we will have to choose between Jones and our #45 pick.

I normally scoff at the value of 2nd round picks, but I'd rather take another shot at a very long shot special player. Maybe Zikarsky or somebody will be available at #45. I'd rather have somebody like that than commit to a multi year deal with a backup guard.

Good point. I want us to use #45 to optimistically get rid of one of Vuc or Carter. Otherwise, just using him as a 2-way is the probable path...which is fine.

There's no chance we can trade anyone without similar money and likely equal or more roster spots coming back IMO. Nobody will absorb somebody like Vuc or Carter into cap space just for a 2nd rounder, and IIRC there are basically no teams with cap space.

Besides, while I don't want Vuc or Carter, I'd rather completely bench them than give up even a small asset to move them.

I agree we'd need to take some throw-away salary back in a Vuc trade to make it work. And I know that AK is (unrealistically) wanting a 1st back, but IMO we really need to get rid of Vuc for this team to move forward. I'd agree that benching him is a better idea except I don't trust Billy to not start him.

Carter, might be dealable for nobody coming back. Probably the better idea is to see if you can buy him out for his $6.5 less his vet min $, and try to get signed for a vet min deal somewhere and come out the same.

[jnrjr79]

Worth noting that barring an unlikely consolidation trade or Carter surprisingly opting out, we will have to choose between Jones and our #45 pick.

I normally scoff at the value of 2nd round picks, but I'd rather take another shot at a very long shot special player. Maybe Zikarsky or somebody will be available at #45. I'd rather have somebody like that than commit to a multi year deal with a backup guard.

Maybe, but a #45 pick probably projects to be a two-way player, anyway.

[League Circles]

Good point. I want us to use #45 to optimistically get rid of one of Vuc or Carter. Otherwise, just using him as a 2-way is the probable path...which is fine.

There's no chance we can trade anyone without similar money and likely equal or more roster spots coming back IMO. Nobody will absorb somebody like Vuc or Carter into cap space just for a 2nd rounder, and IIRC there are basically no teams with cap space.

Besides, while I don't want Vuc or Carter, I'd rather completely bench them than give up even a small asset to move them.

I agree we'd need to take some throw-away salary back in a Vuc trade to make it work. And I know that AK is (unrealistically) wanting a 1st back, but IMO we really need to get rid of Vuc for this team to move forward. I'd agree that benching him is a better idea except I don't trust Billy to not start him.

Carter, might be dealable for nobody coming back. Probably the better idea is to see if you can buy him out for his $6.5 less his vet min $, and try to get signed for a vet min deal somewhere and come out the same.

I can't imagine there is any chance of Carter opting out and certainly no chance that someone takes him for nobody coming back.

I want Vuc gone too but if we trade him, the most likely outcome is 1-3 players coming back that are all in the mix to play in the rotation. There just isn't much "throw-away" salary left in the league.

[kodo]

I've always liked him even pre-trade, wouldn't mind seeing him back on a value contract because I believe Lonzo will either be traded or won't be available for at least half the games.

That being said the Bulls have some critical needs if they're serious about trying to make the playoffs, and another PG is last on that priority list. Bulls were the 2nd highest scoring team in the league post trade, #5 on assists per game. We need more PGs like a car needs a 5th wheel.

OTOH we literally lost the play-in game to get into the postseason because not single person on the team could even bother 6' 6" Tyler Herro from scoring in the paint all game. 6' 1" Tre isn't going to change that.