Report: Mavericks sign former NBA Slam Dunk Contest Champion to contract

Noah Weber

Chicago Bulls v Brooklyn Nets / Mike Stobe/GettyImages

The Dallas Mavericks finally made a move for another wing.

After having their offer sheet matched by the Portland Trailblazers when trying to sign restricted free agent Matisse Thybulle, the Mavs bounced back.

As reported by Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Mavericks have signed wing Derrick Jones Jr. to a one-year contract. Dallas has had rumored interest in Jones Jr. for multiple weeks now, and they finally get their guy.

Report: Mavericks sign former NBA Slam Dunk Contest Champion to contract

Last season for Chicago, Jones Jr. averaged 5.0 points, 2.4 rebounds, 0.5 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game in just 14.0 minutes per game. He made his defensive impact felt in low minutes, and hopefully, he'll do the same in Dallas.

Jones Jr. has a similar build to Thybulle as they are both in the 6-foot-5 to 6-foot-6 range, and they both have massive wingspans. Jones Jr. has a 7-foot wingspan and is an underrated shot-blocker.

The Mavericks desperately needed another wing defender, and Jones Jr. will hopefully be that guy. He has the ability to guard multiple positions and brings his all on that end of the floor. Jones Jr. will also be the type of player who will buy into his role, no matter how big or small.

Dallas Mavericks news was slow over the last few weeks, but the signing of Jones Jr. should excite fans. He is the type of player who will bring intensity and effort on defense and throw down ferocious dunks on the other end.

Jones Jr. won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 2020 and has great athleticism. Dallas fans will be on the edge of their seats when he takes off for dunks as he posterizes defenders whenever he gets the chance.

Derrick Jones Jr. was a fan favorite amongst Mavericks' fans on social media, and the fanbase will love his defensive versatility and freaky athleticism.

We'll have you covered with all the latest news and rumors surrounding the Mavericks for the rest of this offseason, so stay tuned.

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.