Mavericks' Anthony Davis trade fallout just got even uglier after brutal cut

Some Dallas Mavericks fans thought they found their backup point guard of the future when they traded Anthony Davis and three other Mavs for multiple players and draft picks in a three-team trade. One of the players received in return was Tyus Jones, a player the organization believed had the potential be a long-term fit and veteran leader. There was optimism from fans that he could solve the team's point guard woes by spacing the floor and leading Dallas' offense.

This, though, never played out well. Jones was released by the Mavericks on Saturday after playing just eight games for Dallas, officially paving the way for the team to sign Ryan Nembhard to a standard contract. Jones' release marked the end of his time in Dallas, as the veteran point guard proved his time in the NBA may be running out.

Mavericks part ways with Tyus Jones after just eight games

Jones struggled heavily this season, failing to replicate his numbers from years past. The Orlando Magic had seen enough after signing him over the offseason. It's why they were quick to trade him at the trade deadline, as they shipped him to the Charlotte Hornets along with two second-round picks. He was then shipped to Dallas the next day.

However, his in-season regression was something the Mavs overlooked before trading for him. They believed he could turn back the clock. Dallas, though, now understands why the Magic were fine with trading him before even spending a full season in Orlando.

The reality is, Jones is not the same player he once was. He may never average double-digit points, consistently help space the floor, or shoot the 3-point ball at a high level again. It's something the Magic realized fast, as the Mavericks dealt with the same struggles. This is why Dallas knew they too had to move on from the failed experiment if they wanted to build around Cooper Flagg.

Jones struggled to make a major impact within the Mavs system. He averaged a mere 3.9 points per game and 3.8 assists in 16.6 minutes per game over eight games. His statistics were similar to those in Orlando, as reality sank in and it was obvious he was having one of the worst seasons of his career.

It wasn't too long ago that Jones looked like one of the best backup point guards in the NBA. Last season, he had one of the better seasons of his career. Jones averaged 10.2 points per game and 5.3 assists with the Phoenix Suns. Jones also shot a career-high 41.4 percent from the 3-point line. He was an elite passer who could easily space the floor or provide valuable scoring with his efficient shooting and high IQ.

Why Tyus Jones fell flat in Dallas

Fast forward, and Jones is somehow far from the player he was a season ago. It's something coach Jason Kidd realized quickly. The struggling guard seemed promising in his first game with Dallas when he scored four points and had seven assists against the San Antonio Spurs. Reality, though, struck when he struggled in his first game as a starter, and his role quickly dwindled.

Jones scored just two points and missed all three of his 3-point attempts in his first start, as his inability to move the offense was obvious. The team seemed much better with him off the bench, and Kidd knew it. The Mavs' coach played him in just five minutes during the second half of that game.

This was the beginning of the Mavericks realizing that trading for him was a mistake, as Dallas knew his awful season wasn't going to improve. It's why Jones is now a free agent, and the Mavericks locked up Ryan Nembhard.

The Mavericks couldn't afford to keep both players. They knew only one of the small guards could stay, and the team already had their eyes set on keeping Nembhard. It was an obvious choice, as the Dallas rookie was on the rise, while Jones struggled to make ends meet.