Lower than per week after they received their first NBA championship, the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder have already shaken up the roster. They despatched Dillon Jones and a 2029 second-round decide to the Washington Wizards for Colby Jones. The latter was subsequently waived.
The Thunder confronted a roster crunch after Thomas Sorber’s arrival. Jones obtained the brief finish of the stick and was shipped out after only one forgettable yr. The 23-year-old will get a recent begin after he barely performed in his rookie season.
Let’s break down the Thunder-Wizards commerce and the which means for either side. On the finish, Thunder Wire will assign a ultimate grade on the deal:
Why the Thunder made the transfer
The Thunder are the uncommon NBA champions whose whole roster is on the books for subsequent season. That is nice information on the floor. After all, you’d like to run it again with the identical group that obtained you the Larry O’Brien trophy. However some small penalties do exist.
If the Thunder added anyone from the draft to their normal roster, that meant any individual wanted to get booted. After they drafted Sorber with the No. 15 decide, it was solely a matter of time. Most anticipated both Jones or Ousmane Dieng. It turned out to be the man most thought the Thunder would preserve due to his novelty.
Dieng survived this roster crunch. Regardless of solely a yr left on his contract, the Thunder stayed with the youthful participant who’s proven extra flashes on the NBA and G League courtroom. The 22-year-old has had strong stints, however accidents have hampered him from sticking within the rotation.
In the meantime, Jones struggled from the get-go. The 23-year-old could not match an off-ball position. He put up stats within the G League, however wasn’t as dominant and seamless as Dieng. He struggled to maintain up with NBA-level athletes and made avoidable errors.
The Thunder additionally obtained some monetary respiration room. They waived Jones on a contract that is simpler to eat. He solely had $2.2 million assured subsequent season. A lot lower than Jones’ $2.8 million assured subsequent season. They’re now $7 million beneath the tax.
Why the Wizards made the transfer
At this stage of their rebuild, the Wizards are in participant growth mode. They’ve a number of prospects on their roster and added one other in Jones. The Rockets’ 2029 second-round draft decide is not half-bad both and could possibly be used as a commerce chip down the street.
Jones’ taking part in time was solely going to dwindle. The Thunder are a title contender with a number of higher choices forward of him. They had been enamored by his bodily and talent traits at Weber State, however the leap to the NBA did not land as easily as that they had hoped.
As an alternative, Jones will get a recent begin on the Wizards. Wizards GM Will Dawkins spent 15 years on the Thunder, so it should not be a shocker to see him like a few of their prospects. In Washington, maybe he can get extra on-ball reps than he would’ve in OKC.
Both approach, this was price a shot. Jones is barely assured yet one more yr in his rookie deal. He has crew choices of $2.8 million in 2026-27 and $5.2 million in 2027-28. Worst-case state of affairs, you’ll be able to transfer on from him and solely have to surrender any individual you were not going to increase.
Last ideas
Sam Presti beloved Jones. The small-school ahead was on his radar for 2 years. You’ll be able to kinda see why. A bowling-ball ahead who can playmake and run the offense is an intriguing archetype. However bodily limitations, nonexistent taking pictures and age made it tough to see him escape within the NBA, a lot much less on OKC.
The 5 future second-round picks wanted to amass Jones had been a fairly penny to spend, sure. However what’s a couple of bucks to a crew sitting on a fairly pile of draft picks? Particularly second-round picks. The entire level of hoarding draft picks is to be afforded the posh to overpay and never really feel a gap burned in your pockets.
The Thunder dealt six future second-round picks in Jones’s one season — 5 once they traded for him and one hooked up to commerce him away — however who cares? It is a unhealthy commerce, certain. Nevertheless it’s not price shedding sleep over. It was straightforward to foretell he would not work out in OKC, however you’ll be able to’t cease taking swings if you’re afforded to try them.
Jones had one of many extra forgettable Thunder tenures ever. Seldom do you see OKC pull the plug on first-round gamers after only one season. However you’d somewhat see them eat the loss than fall for the sunk value fallacy.
Last Grade: C-minus
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