Minnesota Timberwolves: Tyus Jones is ready for his new role
The Minnesota Timberwolves have accomplished a lot this offseason. One thing they’re yet to achieve is enormous depth on the roster, and this seems very clear at the point guard position.
The Ricky Rubio trade was the second big move the Minnesota Timberwolves made this offseason, after the Jimmy Butler deal. Sending away Rubio solidified the ushering of the new-era Timberwolves.
Rubio was not only the leader on the floor for the Wolves but the longest-serving Timberwolves player on the roster after debuting in 2011.
It wasn’t long before reports of the Timberwolves signing Jeff Teague emerged, and soon enough it was a reality. We believe this signing has a number of pros and cons, but it gave the Timberwolves their new point guard for the new era, or at least the next three years.
But now Rubio is gone, and Kris Dunn was sent packing in the Butler trade. The number two point guard position is open for the taking, and who better for the role than the quiet achiever and Minnesota-native, Tyus Jones?
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Jones has played two seasons for the Timberwolves and has never started a game, but despite decreased minutes actually appeared in more games last season under Tom Thibodeau than the season prior. Jones can flourish in a role as the Timberwolves second-string point guard, should he get the chance this season.
In his two years in Minnesota, he’s averaged 3.8 points and 2.7 assists, throughout 13.9 minutes in 97 appearances. While these numbers aren’t overwhelming, keep in mind Jones is usually very sparsely used in either garbage time or with the rest of the Timberwolves’ last-in-the-league ranked bench, which didn’t give him as much chance to succeed.
Jones was given some decent game time in the Timberwolves’ season finale against Houston, and he managed 17 points and 7 assists, shooting an impressive 66.7 percent from the field including 75 percent from 3-point range in 28 minutes.
While I hate to speak ill of the departed, the Timberwolves’ would have loved to have seen performances like these from Rubio last year. Although the Spanish point guard averaged higher assists than Jones managed in his big game, he averaged six fewer points throughout the season and shot at a much lower percentage.
I’m not trying to say that Rubio is a bad player. In fact, he’s a lot better than most people give him credit for. What I am trying to say is that when given a chance to succeed, Jones has the ability to be a leader for the Wolves’.
I think Jones might find his perfect spot for the Timberwolves this season, should he get the chance to lead the Wolves’ second unit. Jones has shown improvement throughout his short NBA career, and even won last years’ Summer League MVP award, taking the Timberwolves all the way to the final (which they lost to an overtime buzzer-beater.)
Jones will definitely be putting in work this offseason, to improve and solidify his game in an effort to prove to Tom Thibodeau and the training staff that he’s ready for an increased role for the Timberwolves this season.
The Minnesota Timberwolves’ need a second string point guard that can lead the Timberwolves bench to one of the best in the league in their playoff run this year.
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Jones has shown flashes of greatness in the past, alongside general improvement to his game. Given the chance this year, I think he may just be the man the Timberwolves need.