Free agency Tyus Jones, the market’s best remaining guard, has signed to a one-year, $3.3 million contract with the Phoenix Suns, according to his agent, Kevin Bradbury of Lift Sports Management.
Jones is a significant upgrade for the Suns, who struggled without a real point guard last season. Jones, who averaged 12.0 points and 7.3 assists for the Washington Wizards in 2023-24, will have the opportunity to affect a Western Conference contender before possibly returning to a more financially rich free agency market next summer.
The cap-strapped Suns could only give Jones the veteran minimum.
“The chance to play for the Phoenix Suns made the most sense on a lot of levels to me and my family — beginning with the way governor Mat Ishbia and the front office recruited me to how coach Mike Budenholzer showed me how I can significantly impact a team that has a real opportunity to challenge for an NBA title as their starting point guard,” Jones told ESPN on Sunday.
“My agent Bradbury walked me and my family through multiple free agent offers and sign-and-trade proposals at several different financial levels, but the Suns’ opportunity is where I can best maximize my value for a return to free agency next year as well as give myself a chance to be part of what I think will be a special team and season.”
The Suns were proactive in pitching Jones on his possible position on a group that includes Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal and hopes to make a deep run in the Western Conference playoffs.
Jones, 28, played the previous four seasons on playoff teams with the Memphis Grizzlies. He played his first four NBA seasons (2015-19) with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Jones averaged 9.2 points, 4.5 assists, and 1.2 steals over 12 postseason games with the Grizzlies in 2022.
Jones posted a 7.35 assist-to-turnover ratio last season, the greatest of any player since individual turnovers were first recorded in 1977-78, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Jones has the three greatest marks in a season during this time period: 7.04 in 2021-22 and 6.96 in 2018-19.
Is Tyus Jones a free agent?
Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Saturday that Tyus Jones would depart the Washington Wizards to sign a one-year, $3.3 million minimum deal with the Phoenix Suns. Jones was the top free-agent point guard for many weeks after the signing and negotiating period started on June 30.
