With all of the wild and unpredictable moves taking place during free agency, it can be hard to keep track of the smaller deals that are happening around the league.
The lack of point guard depth compared to a decade ago apparent by the fact the Phoenix Suns just nabbed Pat Spencer on a two-way and Mike Conley Jr. has somehow signed for the Boston Celtics.
Nuggets make massive mistake bringing back Tyus Jones
Spare a thought for the Nuggets of Denver then if you can, as they have decided that bringing back Tyus Jones on a one-year deal is the answer to their own table setting woes. Jones is a player you have probably tried to forget, and was emblematic of the problems during the Kevin Durant experience.
Free agent guard Tyus Jones has agreed to a one-year deal to return to the Denver Nuggets, sources tell ESPN. Jones played a reserve role after joining Denver on the buyout market last season, and enters his 12th NBA season as his agent Kevin Bradbury of LIFT Sports Management… pic.twitter.com/OxPTfX8C7l
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 2, 2026
Not only did the 30-year-old take a starting berth from the recently departed Grayson Allen (which he admittedly willingly gave up), he struggled badly as the season progressed and was picked on constantly on the defensive end.
There can be no greater cause for concern for signing him to your team than the fact he played for three seasons last year, beginning with the Orlando Magic.
That roster looked well equipped to deal with his defensive shortcomings as a result of their collective size and length, but they moved him on to the Dallas Mavericks after 48 games. It got no better in Texas, eight appearances and a pair of starters before landing with the Nuggets.
Again the impact was minimal, 11 games and another two games started, at 8.2 minutes each night, 2.2 points and 1.2 assists provided. Quite how the Nuggets, who surely want to contend while Nikola Jokic is in his prime, plan to do so with Jones one of their only true floor generals on the roster is anybody's guess.
Like the Suns before them they have talked themselves into a veteran ball handler who takes care of the basketball and limits turnovers. This is all correct and Jones is most certainly a team player.
Only the defensive woes back of his stature have been well documented, and at this point it is unclear what kind of roster he can thrive on. Not a fringe contender like the Magic, and not a rebuilding group like the Mavericks.
When playing alongside Durant and Devin Booker, Jones was unable to take on some of the defensive assignments to free his teammates up to focus on scoring.
Jones seems a great guy and still has a place in the league. It should just be off the bench behind an elite point guard on a team that is punching above its weight. Like the Memphis Grizzlies where he made his name.
We'll let the Nuggets come to that realization in their own time.
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