Rumors: Dallas Mavericks interested in signing former NBA Slam Dunk Contest Champion

Noah Weber

Boston Celtics v Chicago Bulls / Michael Reaves/GettyImages

Free agency has been going on for over two weeks, and the Dallas Mavericks still aren't done building their roster.

They started free agency strong as they re-signed Kyrie Irving the first night and sign-and-traded for Grant Williams about a week later, but since have been moving a little slower. Could a trade be on the way? Are the Mavericks waiting for the Damian Lillard and James Harden trades to go down so they can hop in?

No one really knows exactly what their plan is, but it seems that they want to add another wing.

Rumors: Dallas Mavericks interested in signing former NBA Slam Dunk Contest Champion

Even after signing Williams, they still need one more wing that can come off the bench. According to Mike Scotto of HoopsHype, the Mavericks have interest in the 2020 NBA Dunk Contest Champion, Derrick Jones Jr along with Kelly Oubre Jr.

Jones Jr. has played for the Chicago Bulls the last two seasons and has averaged 5.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 0.5 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game. His minutes were inconsistent in Chicago, but he still produced when called upon. Jones Jr. is an active defender and would be a good fit in Dallas.

Standing at 6-foot-6 and having a massive 7-foot wingspan, Jones Jr. is a disruptor on defense. He creates turnovers, brings energy, is a freak athlete, and blocks shots. Not many wings can block shots as well as Jones Jr. can, and he is versatile.

The Mavs need another wing defender, and landing Jones Jr. would be huge.

Stay tuned to see who the Mavs decide to sign in free agency. Starting in October, Dallas will be going for their first NBA Championship since 2011, and we'll have you covered all season long.

Noah Weber

Noah Weber is the Site Expert for The Smoking Cuban, covering the Dallas Mavericks as a credentialed media member since the 2022-23 season. With a Bachelor of Science in Sports Media from Oklahoma State University, Noah has worked in sports journalism since 2019. While he's covered the Dallas Cowboys and Oklahoma State Cowboys, he has now established himself as a go-to voice for Mavericks coverage. Noah's expertise includes in-depth game analysis, social media content creation, and offering unique perspectives through his reporting. His work has been featured on major platforms such as ESPN, Bleacher Report, and Overtime. During his time at Oklahoma State, Noah won first place in the Oklahoma Broadcast Education Association Awards for a show he co-produced. Outside of covering the Mavs, Noah enjoys working out, playing basketball and Spikeball, and spending quality time with friends and family.