Mavericks officially sign former Slam Dunk Contest Champion

The Dallas Mavericks have officially signed former Chicago Bulls wing, Derrick Jones Jr., to a one-year, fully guaranteed contract.

Jones Jr. went undrafted by way of UNLV in 2016. He began his career in Phoenix before making a name for himself while suiting up for the Miami Heat.

Mavericks officially sign former Slam Dunk Contest Champion

In 2017, Jones Jr. began his career with the Miami Heat on a two-way contract. After multiple impressive showings, Jones Jr. signed a 2-year pact with the Heat after the end of the season.

From 2018 to 2020, Jones Jr. provided defense and elite athleticism for the Heat. Jones Jr. competed in and won the NBA Slam Contest against Aaron Gordon in 2020.

After the 2020 season, Jones Jr. signed a 2-year term with the Portland Trailblazers. A year later, he was traded to the Chicago Bulls. Jones Jr. spent two seasons in Chicago before declining his player option and becoming an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

Along with Grant Williams and Olivier-Maxence Prosper, the Mavs added yet another defensive-minded wing to their rotation.

With Jones Jr. in tow, the Mavs now have an uber-athletic forward to deploy next to an elite passer in Luka Doncic. It will surely be a fun sight to watch Jones Jr. and recent signee, Greg Brown III, catch lobs from Doncic and other Mavs ball handlers.

Look for the former Bull to provide the Mavs with switchable defense and athletic plays, especially in transition. It's been a long time since Dallas has employed a player with such elite athleticism. Jones Jr. is a fantastic signing to fill the last roster spot.

We'll continue to have you covered on all things Mavericks. Although the Mavs may be finished in free agency, a few players may still be on the trade market.