The NBA is full of sliding doors moments and taking advantage of opportunity when it comes your way, so spare a thought for former Phoenix Suns' point guard Tyus Jones.
His lone season in The Valley last year did not go as planned, but it wasn't that bad right? The Orlando Magic sure thought they got a steal when they landed him to run the show there.
Jones traded twice at the deadline
Well if you didn't know, things went from bad to worse for the 29-year-old in Orlando. Their season has fallen flat on its face as well, which didn't help his own role there.
It was no surprise to see Jones traded to the Charlotte Hornets for cash considerations while the Magic had to attach some second round picks earlier this week, but the story does not end there.
Rather than keep him around, the suddenly frisky Hornets flipped him once again to the Dallas Mavericks for Malaki Branham, although this may actually have a happy ending.
Fun Fact: Tyus Jones has the highest AST/TOV ratio in NBA history.
— StatMuse (@statmuse) February 5, 2026
Mavs got a PG for Coop. pic.twitter.com/vfGiZhBn1n
The Mavericks have moved on from Anthony Davis and currently need a floor general until Kyrie Irving comes back from his ACL tear. It is also fair to say there are no expectations in Dallas currently.
That is the perfect situation for Jones to rebuild his trade value (and confidence), while in Phoenix another point guard has had a sliding doors moment of their own.
Jamaree Bouyea the big winner as the Suns made a deal to take them under the tax, and most likely convert Bouyea's contract to a full-time one in the process.
Had Jones still being in The Valley things could have been different, although it is hard to see how head coach Jordan Ott could have gotten any more out of him than the Magic did.
Both teams being built on sound defensive structures, which the undersized Jones struggles to have a consistent impact as part of.
It also continues what has been a whirlwind 18 months for the former Memphis Grizzlies guard, as a one year stop with the Washington Wizards in which he started plenty and had career highs in many categories turned into a chance to join a winner in the Suns.
That didn't happen, although heading to the Magic also made sense on paper. Once again Jones failed to fit in, leading to this unfortunate position of being traded twice in a week.
He didn't deserve that but here is hoping his tenure with the Mavericks gets his career back on track because it has gone off the rails.