After the Dallas Mavericks’ run to the 2024 NBA Finals and their entry into free company, common supervisor Nico Harrison had one thing he referred to as “precedence 1A and 1B”; re-sign Derrick Jones Jr. Jones has been a starter all through their playoff run, turning into a key level of assault defender on the perimeter. As his offense got here and went, he was pretty much as good because the minimal signature one might ask for.
However Jones modified brokers initially of free company, which made negotiations troublesome. Dallas turned its consideration to former New Orleans Pelicans Naji Marshall and signed him to a three-year, $27 million contract, whereas Jones left city for the LA Clippers, signing of $30 million over three years.
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The Mavericks and Clippers simply performed back-to-back video games in Dallas on December 19 and 21, giving us a head-to-head matchup between Marshall and Jones. Derrick Jones Jr. entered Thursday’s recreation as questionable, however he ended up beginning and taking part in in each video games.
In these two video games mixed, Jones had 12 factors, 5 rebounds, two assists, two steals and three blocks, taking pictures 5/10 from the ground and a couple of/6 from three. In the meantime, Naji Marshall had 21 factors, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals, taking pictures 8/20 from the ground and three/7 from three.
The most important distinction between the 2 gamers is Marshall’s capability to create his personal shot, whereas Jones depends virtually solely on different gamers to open the ground for him. Marshall had simply missed a number of video games with an higher respiratory an infection and was nonetheless the simpler participant between the 2. And in a time the place each greenback counts to remain underneath the brand new tax tabs, having Marshall at a less expensive value is large.
Derrick Jones Jr. was a strong participant for the Mavericks throughout their run to the NBA Finals, however Dallas discovered a approach to get a less expensive improve that additionally comes primarily from the bench. They received this deal although they fell in need of their high precedence.
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