10 Dream trade targets for the Timberwolves (and what'd it cost to acquire them)
By Austin McGee
4. Tyus Jones
What it'd cost: Matching salary, scoring wing, second-round draft capital
Perhaps the player most consistently linked to the Timberwolves is Washington Wizards guard Tyus Jones. The former Timberwolf himself is a rock-solid option at the point. He's essentially a Mike Conley 2.0.
He's a turnover-averse guard, capable of scoring when needed and defending at a high level. Jones isn't the most flashy, but his game isn't predicated on pizzazz. He's a steady playmaker who's never averaged more than a turnover per game.
It's quite remarkable to average 20.0 minutes per game and less than a turnover as a lead guard. Even more unfathomable, the Wizards guard has led the NBA in assist-to-turnover ratio every year since 2019. Only once this decade has a player come close to dethroning Jones from the top spot.
On a per-36-minute basis, Jones' turnovers remain relatively the same. Per 36 minutes, he's only averaged more than 2.0 turnovers per game once, his rookie season. No matter the amount of time he spends on the court, Jones remains turnover-averse.
This season, in extended time, Jones is knocking down 49.2 percent of his field goal attempts and 39.9 percent of his triples, both career-highs. Despite manning the point, nearly 80 percent of his 3-pointers are assisted. He's nailed 44.7 percent of his spot-up looks.
A better indicator of scoring on the ball, Jones' 3-point and field goal percentages improve as the amount of dribbles increases. For instance, using 3-6 dribbles, Jones shoots 50.8 percent from the floor and 47.4 percent from downtown.
Trading for the Washington floor general won't be easy. It's already been reported that the Wizards turned down four second-rounders for Jones. Minnesota will likely have to dangle Leonard Miller alongside multiple second-rounders and salary filler for Jones.