The commerce deadline is approaching and the Spurs discover themselves in an attention-grabbing place. It’s unclear whether or not they’ll be aggressive patrons however it could be shocking to see them be sellers, at the very least in relation to their rotation gamers. They’ve weaknesses however stability appears to be one in all their priorities this yr.
Tre Jones is the one participant commonly getting minutes that they might half methods with in a choice that might make sense for each events. He has seen his position shrink this season and whereas he’s useful, he doesn’t appear important. The Spurs shouldn’t simply attempt to eliminate him, however they need to undoubtedly make him out there.
Jones may assist lots of groups however is superfluous on the Spurs
Jones is a pleasant participant with one main flaw: he can’t shoot. Nonetheless, there’s worth to what he brings to the desk. The Spurs have been considerably higher with him on the ground this season, a development that continues from the 2 years prior. He’s too small to be a stopper on protection however he avoids being a legal responsibility by being bodily and fast, and he’s nice at working the offense with out turning the ball over whereas nonetheless pushing the tempo when doable and driving to the rim when a lane is there.
So why would the Spurs commerce him? It has to do with the present guard rotation. Jones and Chris Paul are too small as a duo to be stout defensively and whereas they’ll coexist on offense, each are higher when they are often the principle orchestrator and set their most popular tempo. They’ll survive in sure matchups, however there’s a motive past Jones’ damage woes why they’ve solely shared the ground for 75 complete minutes this season. Jones has paired nicely with Stephon Fort in a much bigger pattern dimension, because the rookie remains to be studying find out how to be a main ball handler, however with Paul taking part in 29 minutes a recreation and Fort needing reps working level to proceed to enhance, there’s not a lot room for Jones to depart his mark within the recreation. He’s averaging the ninth most minutes per recreation on the staff (virtually eight fewer than the eighth man) whereas his utilization has plummeted.
Then there’s Blake Wesley and Malaki Branham. There’s barely room for Jones within the rotation, so the 2 younger guards are fully out of it and there’s no cheap approach apart from accidents to see that altering. Neither has completed a lot to counsel they need to be getting minutes, however the Spurs picked up their choices for subsequent season. Now, that doesn’t imply they’re of their future plans — their salaries are tiny and will seemingly be dumped simply — but it surely appears smart to at the very least give them a shot this yr earlier than doubtlessly coming into a 2025/26 season with greater expectations and two nonetheless untested younger depth items round. If the purpose of this season is to determine who belongs and who doesn’t to make knowledgeable selections in the summertime, permitting Wesley and Branham to have few however constant minutes for half a season to indicate they’ve improved feels good.
Jones provides stable bench play and potential financial savings to whoever trades for him
Jones isn’t somebody who would even in preferrred circumstances web a first-rounder or a high quality younger participant on a commerce, however he may fetch a second-rounder or a depth piece at a much less crowded place. However what’s the marketplace for him, groups which are enthusiastic about his expertise or in his expiring contract? Happily, it could possibly be each.
Usually, getting a participant on the deadline on an expiring contract may imply getting a rental, however the way in which the market has just lately handled small guards suggests it wouldn’t be laborious to re-sign Jones. Tre’s brother Tyus entered unrestricted free company final offseason after a profession yr, however there have been no large provides for him, so he needed to signal with the Suns for the minimal. One other small guard who settled for scraps was Jose Alvarado. The Pelicans’ sparkplug was headed to restricted free company however as an alternative agreed to a two-year, $9 million extension with a participant choice for the 2026/27 season to get assured cash. Guys like Payton Pritchard and T.J. McConnel play large roles for his or her groups and make beneath eight figures. The purpose is, if a staff is enthusiastic about buying and selling after which re-signing Jones, they shouldn’t have a lot competitors and will get a cut price.
Some franchises may be extra enthusiastic about Jones’ expiring contract than his expertise, and the Spurs’ cap state of affairs makes them the proper commerce associate if that’s the case. San Antonio isn’t projected to have cap house this upcoming offseason however has a number of sizable contracts set to run out in 2026, so taking somebody with two years left in his deal for Jones shouldn’t be a problem. The Silver and Black can even supply quick financial savings. As a result of they don’t face any commerce restrictions, they’ll ship out Jones’ $9.1 million contract and soak up round $16 million whereas not coming even near the luxurious tax, a lot much less the primary apron. A staff seeking to minimize its tax invoice or get beneath the apron may get a official rotation participant whereas nonetheless engaging in its monetary objectives by buying and selling for Jones.
Jones doesn’t seem like a great commerce asset at first look, however he’s a useful participant who could possibly be had for affordable, may assist clear wage this yr and going ahead, and may seemingly be re-signed to a team-friendly deal if he impresses. It will not be shocking if different franchises at the very least inquire about him if the Spurs make him out there.
There’s a great case for why they need to. They received’t get a blue chip asset again however he may fetch them a choose or a depth piece at a much less crowded place and it may enable them to play youthful guys who’ve a contract that extends previous this season. If the thought is to shake issues up a little bit with out taking large dangers, shifting Jones could possibly be the correct choice.
