Mavericks' soon-to-be key free agent 'wants to be back' next season

The Dallas Mavericks are in the middle of an intense series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and tonight's Game 5 could decide everything. The winner of Game 5 when the series is tied 2-2 wins more often than not, and the Mavs have to go win tonight to have the chance to close the series out at home this weekend.

The Mavs have shown they can beat the Thunder, just like they did in Games 2 and 3, and they must be better in the clutch. Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving also have to be better, and the role players have stepped up in a big way in this series.

P.J. Washington is playing some of the best basketball of his career right now, and he is slowly emerging as Dallas' third star next to Irving and Doncic.

Derrick Jones Jr. '"wants to be back" with Mavericks next season

Another role player who has stepped up in the playoffs is Derrick Jones Jr., and despite becoming an unrestricted free agent this summer, he "wants to be back (in Dallas)" according to an article by Tim Cato of The Athletic.

This was a quote from Jones Jr.'s agent Aaron Turner, and although Jones Jr. is expected to test the open market, both sides seem to want a reunion in Dallas next season. Jones Jr. has been the starting wing for the Mavs all season long, and his defense has made him invaluable to this team.

Jones Jr. guards phenomenally in space, and he never complains and does what is asked of him. Jason Kidd has harped on his maturity and selflessness all season long, and it would be huge if Dallas could re-sign him considering that he is the only player on the current roster (outside of veteran Markieff Morris) who isn't under contract for next season.

The Mavs have built an excellent core around Doncic and Irving, and Jones Jr. has been key to their winning this season. Dallas has shown tons of confidence in Jones Jr. all year, and he is coming off the best season of his career as a shooter as he shot 34.3 percent from downtown.

The Mavs need Jones Jr. to build off the 17 points he scored in Game 4 tonight in Game 5, and a big Jones Jr. game combined with great play all around him could guarantee a Mavs win.

Regardless of what happens in this playoff series against the Thunder, Jones Jr. seems to want to be a Maverick moving forward and Dallas wants the same thing.

For all the latest on Derrick Jones Jr. and the Dallas Mavericks throughout the 2024 NBA Playoffs, stay tuned.