Tyus Jones Signs With Suns

According to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, point guard Tyus Jones is signing with the Phoenix Suns. 

Jones, a terrific floor general, played for the Washington Wizards last season. 

Tyus Jones to ESPN on his decision to sign with the Suns pic.twitter.com/9IYGsvnG7R

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 27, 2024

Jones averaged 12.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.3 blocks this past season for the Wizards while shooting 48.9% from the field, 41.4% from beyond the arc and 80.0% from the free-throw line.  

Jones, 28, has career averages of 7.4 points, 2.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.1 blocks with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Memphis Grizzlies and Wizards. He was the 24th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft out of Duke. 

Phoenix went 49-33 in 2023-24 but was swept in the first round of the 2024 playoffs by the Timberwolves.  

The Suns fired Frank Vogel after one season and hired Mike Budenholzer, who won the 2021 title with the Milwaukee Bucks against the Suns in six games. 

According to NBA reporters Shams Charania and Doug Haller of The Athletic, Kevin Durant never felt comfortable with his role in the Suns’ offense alongside Devin Booker and Bradley Beal in 2023-24. 

“Meanwhile, Durant, among the best scorers in NBA history, was not always happy with how he was used,” Charania and Haller wrote. “Sources briefed on the matter told The Athletic that Durant never felt comfortable with his role in Phoenix’s offense alongside Booker and Beal this season. Those sources said Durant had persistent issues with the offense, feeling that he was being relegated to the corner far too often and not having the proper designs to play to his strengths as the offense was built around pick-and-rolls.

“At the same time, some teammates and people close to the organization believed Durant needed to voice his concerns more adamantly and directly with Vogel and his coaching staff.”