Why Derrick Jones Jr. is a perfect fit for the Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks needed to have a great summer this offseason. They needed to make significant changes to the roster, as they failed miserably this past season.

After making a run to the Western Conference finals in 2022, the Mavericks took a major step back, and this past year, they missed out on the postseason entirely, failing to even qualify for the Play-In.

So, as the summer began, they knew they needed to make major changes - and they did just that.

Dallas traded for Grant Williams and Richaun Holmes, drafted Dereck Lively II and Olivier-Maxence Prosper, signed Seth Curry and Dante Exum, and re-signed Kyrie Irving.

Why Derrick Jones Jr. is a perfect fit for the Dallas Mavericks

And most recently, they signed free-agent forward Derrick Jones Jr. to a one-year contract, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Jones Jr. will be a perfect addition to the Mavericks rotation, especially with how capable he is on both sides of the ball.

Defensively, Jones will use his athleticism to stay active and guard wings and forwards. For a Mavericks team that struggled on the defensive end, having another versatile forward will be very valuable.

While Jones Jr. is only 6-foot-5, he has a seven-foot wingspan which helps him rack up steals and blocks, making life difficult for opponents. 

On the other side of the ball, Jones Jr.’s athleticism will come into play once again, as he will be a perfect fit next to Luka Doncic and Irving.

Throughout the course of his career, Doncic hasn’t had too many elite lob threats to play with. He’s played with a couple of solid centers, but Jones Jr.’s athleticism is next level.

The 26-year-old forward will be able to play off the ball, setting screens and making cuts, providing the Mavericks with great rim pressure, as Doncic will be able to simply float the ball in his direction, allowing him to throw down lobs.

Jones Jr.’s three-point shot leaves much to be desired, but he actually shot 33.8% from distance with the Chicago Bulls this past season - a career-high.

With his athleticism, crazy long wingspan, and ability to play an effective role on both sides of the ball, Jones Jr. is a perfect fit in Dallas (even if he only plays a minor role).