The Phoenix Suns signed Tyus Jones to a one-year, $3.3 million deal in 2024, which felt too good to be true. It turns out it was too good to be true, as Jones eventually lost his starting spot. He signed with the Magic on a one-year, $7 million deal over the summer for a fresh start, but his time in Orlando hasn't gone well, to say the least. Now that it's Dec. 15, Jones is eligible to be traded.
That isn't to say the Magic will trade Jones today (it could happen, though!), but they do need to explore the backup point guard market. Jones is averaging a career-low 2.4 points and 2.1 assists per game, shooting 26.8% from three. He is averaging only 14.1 minutes per game in 21 contests. Defensive limitations are nothing new for Jones, but he isn't shooting the ball well (at all).
If the regular season ended today, Orlando would secure a playoff berth. Before the season started, the Magic went all-in on Desmond Bane, taking advantage of a "weakened" Eastern Conference. They are no longer in a place where advancing to the playoffs is a win in itself. Orlando wants to make real noise.
The front office should be looking at ways to upgrade around the margins, with the backup point guard position at the top of their list. Not everyone is lucky enough to have Collin Gillespie.
Tyus Jones is eligible to be traded now that it's Dec. 15
If you thought that Jones' time in Phoenix was rough, you didn't know how bad it could get. He's been on the verge of unplayable for the Magic. It's to the point where some fans view a Chris Paul trade as an upgrade. Mind you, Paul is also an undersized guard with defensive limitations at 40. Jones has been bad, but Paul didn't do much of anything in the 16 games he played for the Clippers.
Now that trade season is officially here, rumors will start to pick up. Orlando will get a better sense of what backup point guards are available. Jones was supposed to be the answer for the Magic off the bench, but his game has fallen off a cliff. Maybe he needs another change of scenery to return to the kind of player that he was in Memphis.
Even though it didn't work out for Jones and the Suns, hopefully, he'll either turn a corner in Orlando or find his footing elsewhere.