Happy New Year and Welcome to Derrick Jones, Jr!

[DayofMourning]

Teammates already are raving about the possibilities of "Airplane Mode," who again took his game to impressive heights Wednesday in Indiana. Tyler Johnson said what has been on display on the court is only a small fraction of what Jones has shown teammates privately on the practice court.

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Finding gems in the developmental league routinely. Our whole roster is built primarily on 2nd rounders and D/G leaguers. The first rounders we do have have primarily been castoffs from other teams.

[HeatFanLifer]

He did not shoot this well before. He's definitely taken a step forward.

Where did this 20 year old come from, why was he not identified by scouts, and why would Phoenix let him go?

He didn't just appear. He's been in the league back-and-forth with the g-league since he was drafted. He played at UNLV and was at the all-star game dunk competition last season. The difference is he's playing credible defense (without getting into foul trouble, a huge problem before) and he's shooting with more confidence. Even his free throw numbers were abominable before. It's a big step up.

The first question was more rhetorical than anything else, but thanks for answering.

I just don't get how the Heat keep finding this talent and why teams let that talent go. I can't think of any team better than the Heat at taking undrafted players and turning them into contributors.

[Mars]

Where did this 20 year old come from, why was he not identified by scouts, and why would Phoenix let him go?

He apparently was a victim of the Suns having too many wing players and became the odd man out...

Kellan Olson | Arizona Sports
September 30, 2017

PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns focused on selecting wings in the 2017 NBA Draft, and both of them figured to play a key role in the team’s rotation from the jump.

Josh Jackson’s two-way play at small forward has him penned in as a key long-term piece and four-year college player Davon Reed looked to be headed right for playing time when Brandon Knight tore his ACL, only for Reed to have a significant knee injury as well.

With that, the team traded for Memphis shooting guard Troy Daniels, filling a need as a backup at the position and as a shooter.

With Devin Booker, T.J. Warren, Jackson and Daniels on the wing, there’s not much room for second-year player Derrick Jones Jr. That might make Jones an afterthought to some, but his potential makes him anything but that...

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[Zasterror]

The Heat just keep doing this. It's amazing that we just found these guys. Are we only team that takes the G-League seriously in terms player scouting & development?

[Rafly]

The Heat just keep doing this. It's amazing that we just found these guys. Are we only team that takes the G-League seriously in terms player scouting & development?

The success they had with TJ and Whiteside has to have opened there eyes. But in reality it goes way back before the g league. A guy like UD is a great example as well.

[Mars]

Pat Riley’s message to Heat’s intriguing young wing player

Barry Jackson | Miami Herald
January 16, 2018

MILWAUKEE — The Heat’s predicament on the wings hasn’t reached crisis level, but it’s certainly getting closer to that.

Already without two starting wing players from part of last season’s second-half run, Miami now must deal with the temporary loss of Tyler Johnson, who is listed as doubtful for Wednesday’s game in Milwaukee after spraining his left ankle in Monday’s loss to Chicago.

That leaves Miami without three of its top six small forwards/shooting guards — Rodney McGruder (expected back in several weeks from a broken tibia), Dion Waiters (out for the season because of upcoming ankle surgery) and now Johnson, who was on crutches leaving The United Center on Monday.

Johnson’s injury leaves Erik Spoelstra with four options to replace Waiters/Johnson: Inserting rookie Derrick Jones Jr. into the starting lineup, as he did in two games last week; starting Justise Winslow at shooting guard or small forward, with Josh Richardson playing the other position; starting Wayne Ellington (whom Spoelstra prefers coming off the bench); or shifting James Johnson to small forward and starting Kelly Olynyk at power forward in a big frontcourt.

Jones has only 15 days of NBA eligibility remaining as part of his two-way contract, but the Heat likes what it has seen.

When Jones signed with Miami on Dec. 31 after being cut by the Phoenix Suns earlier this season, Heat president Pat Riley had a simple message: “He said whenever I get to play, go out there with a lot of energy and impact the game on the defensive end and let the offense come to me.”.

Jones has displayed athleticism and a defensive bent and said he believes his offensive game has improved. In 38 career games with Phoenix, he shot 5 for 17 from three to nine feet. With Miami, he’s 3 for 6 from that range.

“Before I came here, I wasn’t making as many shots as I am now,” he said. “Coaches have told me to keep my hands up higher and keep my hands on the ball before my feet are set so I’ll be able to shoot the ball right away. My game is at a different level and my confidence level is higher, and I feel a lot more comfortable playing the game now.”...

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[Mars]

‘Airplane Mode’ impressing Heat teammates with dunks, coach with hustle

Manny Navarro | Miami Herald
January 22, 2018

Derrick Jones Jr. said the last time anyone measured his vertical leap was his senior year at Philadelphia’s Archbishop John Carroll High School.

“It was 48 [inches] at the time,” the 20-year-old, 6-7, 200-pound second-year swingman out of UNLV said about an hour before making his first start of the season for the Miami Heat Jan. 10 in Indiana. “I’ve gained weight. I don’t know what it is right now. I know it’s still pretty high.”

“On a good day,” Jones Jr. said he can slap his hands on the top of the backboard.

Jones’ freakish leaping ability is what got him to the NBA. His heart and hustle – coupled with those hops – is what continues to impress his teammates and his coaches, and it’s why Jones Jr. could very well remain with the Heat when his two-way contract expires (he’s got nine NBA-eligible days left after Monday before the Heat would have to open up a spot on the 15-man roster to keep him).

The Heat, which has dealt with a rash of injuries all season at guard, knows Jones Jr. has a ways to go when it comes to his shooting (he’s 4 of 16 on jump shots including 1 of 10 beyond nine feet). But defensive plays like the one he made in the first half of Saturday’s win in Charlotte – when he ran down Kemba Walker for a block that was ultimately ruled goaltending – is why coach Erik Spoelstra loves his potential.

“That’s indicative of what we’re talking about, competing every single possession like it’s the most important possession, regardless of the score, regardless of the circumstance,” Spoelstra said Monday at shootaround in Houston. “He had no chance to get that block, but he ran 80 feet to catch Kemba Walker and ended up getting a goaltend on it. But I think there’s a karma to that.”...

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[Mars]

My guess is the HEAT braintrust is looking to:

• Get him into supreme condition
• Craft a reliable jump shot
• Maximize the defensive potential of his length, range and ridiculous athleticism
• Hope to the heavens he develops into an ultra athletic version of Tayshaun Prince

[RexBoyWonder]

This kid is the first round pick we didn't have last year.

He's already a defensive and rebounding force, and honestly his offense isn't that bad. He can hit some 3's and drive some. Not very poished, but already playable.