ducks
07-10-2005, 09:39 AM
Wolves offer deal to center
Steve Aschburner, Star Tribune
July 10, 2005 WOLF0710
Still searching for big men, the Timberwolves reportedly have gone to the unusual lengths of offering a guaranteed contract to Dwayne Jones, the St. Joseph's center who wasn't even selected in the NBA draft two weeks ago.
The Philadelphia Daily News, quoting Jones' father, said his son was to travel to Minnesota this weekend to sign a two-year, $1.1 million guaranteed deal with the Wolves. Jones, 6-11 and 250 pounds, averaged 10.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 3.0 blocks in 36 games in 2004-05, his junior season.
The 22-year-old apparently was not drafted because of speculation about an injury to one of his knees. But he showed enough either at the Chicago predraft camp in early June or in a subsequent workout with the Wolves that they pursued him aggressively.
His college coach, Phil Martelli, told the Associated Press that the school had taken steps to restore Jones' eligibility. But Dwayne Jones Sr. said that Wolves owner Glen Taylor called his son Thursday night to convince him to sign.
"They said, 'We're going to treat this kid like a first-round draft choice,' " Jones' father said. "They went to extreme measures to make this happen."
Another possible connection: Dean Demopoulos, a Seattle assistant coach expected to join Dwane Casey's staff with the Wolves, recruited Jones while working for John Chaney at Temple.
A Wolves spokesman confirmed Saturday that Jones would participate in the team's summer league workouts and games beginning Tuesday at Target Center. Citing the NBA's moratorium on free-agent signings, however, team officials declined to comment on the specifics of Jones' arrangement.
But Dwayne Jones Sr. even told the Daily News that his son would wear No. 11 with the Wolves.
Offering and guaranteeing a multiyear contract for an undrafted rookie is a rare move in the NBA. The $1.1 million figure, if correct, would reflect the league's minimum salary for a player's first two seasons in the league, based on anticipated figures in the new collective bargaining agreement to be ratified this month.
Wolves Vice President of Basketball Operations Kevin McHale signed Australian guard Shane Heal to a three-year, $1.15 million guarantee in September 1996, though Heal made only 43 appearances in one season before being released. Two years ago, the Dallas Mavericks gave guard Marquis Daniels, undrafted out of Auburn, a guaranteed one-year deal after seeing him play in their summer league.
The Wolves still have not announced the signings of first-round draft pick Rashad McCants or second-rounder Bracey Wright.
Martelli told the AP he was disappointed by Jones' decision and had hoped to have the Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year back for a final season; Jones received a sociology degree in May and would have taken graduate courses had he returned to St. Joseph's.
Jones ranked fifth in the nation in rebounding and blocked shots. He had 11 points, 11 rebounds and 10 blocks against St. Bonaventure in a February game and finished with 19 double-doubles. A product of American Christian High School in Aston, Pa., Jones made only 48 percent of his free throws in three college seasons but did not miss a game.
Steve Aschburner is at [email protected].
Steve Aschburner, Star Tribune
July 10, 2005 WOLF0710
Still searching for big men, the Timberwolves reportedly have gone to the unusual lengths of offering a guaranteed contract to Dwayne Jones, the St. Joseph's center who wasn't even selected in the NBA draft two weeks ago.
The Philadelphia Daily News, quoting Jones' father, said his son was to travel to Minnesota this weekend to sign a two-year, $1.1 million guaranteed deal with the Wolves. Jones, 6-11 and 250 pounds, averaged 10.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 3.0 blocks in 36 games in 2004-05, his junior season.
The 22-year-old apparently was not drafted because of speculation about an injury to one of his knees. But he showed enough either at the Chicago predraft camp in early June or in a subsequent workout with the Wolves that they pursued him aggressively.
His college coach, Phil Martelli, told the Associated Press that the school had taken steps to restore Jones' eligibility. But Dwayne Jones Sr. said that Wolves owner Glen Taylor called his son Thursday night to convince him to sign.
"They said, 'We're going to treat this kid like a first-round draft choice,' " Jones' father said. "They went to extreme measures to make this happen."
Another possible connection: Dean Demopoulos, a Seattle assistant coach expected to join Dwane Casey's staff with the Wolves, recruited Jones while working for John Chaney at Temple.
A Wolves spokesman confirmed Saturday that Jones would participate in the team's summer league workouts and games beginning Tuesday at Target Center. Citing the NBA's moratorium on free-agent signings, however, team officials declined to comment on the specifics of Jones' arrangement.
But Dwayne Jones Sr. even told the Daily News that his son would wear No. 11 with the Wolves.
Offering and guaranteeing a multiyear contract for an undrafted rookie is a rare move in the NBA. The $1.1 million figure, if correct, would reflect the league's minimum salary for a player's first two seasons in the league, based on anticipated figures in the new collective bargaining agreement to be ratified this month.
Wolves Vice President of Basketball Operations Kevin McHale signed Australian guard Shane Heal to a three-year, $1.15 million guarantee in September 1996, though Heal made only 43 appearances in one season before being released. Two years ago, the Dallas Mavericks gave guard Marquis Daniels, undrafted out of Auburn, a guaranteed one-year deal after seeing him play in their summer league.
The Wolves still have not announced the signings of first-round draft pick Rashad McCants or second-rounder Bracey Wright.
Martelli told the AP he was disappointed by Jones' decision and had hoped to have the Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year back for a final season; Jones received a sociology degree in May and would have taken graduate courses had he returned to St. Joseph's.
Jones ranked fifth in the nation in rebounding and blocked shots. He had 11 points, 11 rebounds and 10 blocks against St. Bonaventure in a February game and finished with 19 double-doubles. A product of American Christian High School in Aston, Pa., Jones made only 48 percent of his free throws in three college seasons but did not miss a game.
Steve Aschburner is at [email protected].