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This guy would have been an awesome Spur -- young, defensive minded, long 3 who can shoot three-pointers and has a great at ude.
Trade for Pacers' Jones is expected by end of week
Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Aug. 24, 2005 12:00 AM
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepu...unsnb0824.html
There likely will be a new Suns player by the end of the week.
That would have figured to be Scott Padgett or Michael Finley not too long ago, but Padgett is waffling a little and Finley is still pondering. In the meantime, Phoenix is poised to bring on 24-year-old Indiana swingman James Jones in a sign-and-trade deal that should be completed this week.
The trade is awaiting Joe Johnson's physical in Atlanta, which must be done by Saturday to consummate that sign-and-trade deal. Part of the Johnson deal includes a $6 million trade exception for Phoenix, which will use part of it to acquire Jones.
The Pacers have a full roster and want to lower their luxury tax-burdened payroll. That makes a trade involving a draft pick, rather than a Suns player, more plausible. Jones was a 2003 second-round pick (No. 49) who did not play as a rookie and averaged 4.9 points and 2.3 rebounds last season, so the deal might require the Suns to surrender only a second-round choice.
"I'm a big Jones supporter," said Suns guard Raja Bell, a fellow Miami prep product who played with Jones in the summers. "Every year, he gets better. I think he can fit right into the system because he plays different positions, shoots the ball well and runs well."
Jones played center in his high school days, setting him up for a versatile future. Indiana's suspensions and injuries led to Jones going from scrub time to a major role, including 24 starts, last season. He played shooting guard, small forward and power forward.
Jones, who is 6 feet 8, 220 pounds, hit 39.8 percent of his three-pointers but only 39.6 percent of all his shots. His maturity and basketball IQ drew raves from the Pacers staff.
Last edited by Kori Ellis; 08-24-2005 at 03:33 AM.
This guy would have been an awesome Spur -- young, defensive minded, long 3 who can shoot three-pointers and has a great at ude.
this means the Suns' big entourage of Sarver, Amare & Co.to court Finley went pffffffft?
Next : Spurs
No, this has nothing to do with them signing Finley. They are trying to get them both. I doubt Finley would go there though, eventhough he is good friends with Nash. They have very little money to offer.this means the Suns' big entourage of Sarver, Amare & Co.to court Finely went pffffffft?
Next : Spurs
Kori, lets not go crazy over some kid who has yet to even play meaningful minutes in the NBA.
I'd rather the Spurs concentrate on trying to add players that are either 1) proven 2) realistic.
Umm.. I'm not talking about him being an impact player. He was a very "realistic" option for the Spurs.
The goal is to get a young, defensive-minded small forward who Bowen can groom for the future. James Jones very much fills that role. There's not that many of these types available. The Spurs have roster spots to fill and I (like most people) was hoping one of them would get filled with this type of player.
That would be great for the suns.If they land Fin as well they would be a really good team again.
Thomas/Burke
Amare/ Grant
Marion/ Jackson/ Jones
Finley/ Bell
Nash/Barbosa
...looks dangerous...
james jones was my favourite pick for the long 3... but when i saw NY and Phoenix were on it...
dbrown or evans are young but short. finley glenn are ok but old
So my second young choice would be matt barnes.
do you think sacramento is ready to let go evans in the hope of retaining barnes?
The Spurs have been quiet in the free agency market this summer except signing Oberto. Does this have anything to do with the departure of many front office people?
You're a moron. Who's out there that's "proven" and "realistic"? He would have been a great fit.Kori, lets not go crazy over some kid who has yet to even play meaningful minutes in the NBA.
I'd rather the Spurs concentrate on trying to add players that are either 1) proven 2) realistic.
We were looking for a project for Bowen to groom, not someone to slide into the starting SF spot.
No. The people who make the calls (RC and Pop) are still here. I don't know who was expecting big waves in the FA market - the Spurs roster was largely set at the start of the summer, and they had nothing to offer except their MLE and LLE exemptions.The Spurs have been quiet in the free agency market this summer except signing Oberto. Does this have anything to do with the departure of many front office people?
James Jones would have been a great guy for the Spurs. He as upside. Period. He's young and learning more and more. Under a system like Pop's would have just made him better. He will be very good in Phoenix. That team is going to be good again. 60+ wins? I don't know, but they will compete with the Spurs for the top Western Team.
That sucks. I was hoping for Jones. Oh well, I guess we need to just resigned Big Dog Robinson and try again next year.
Jones would've been a nice acquisition, but a 'young 3 to replace Bowen' is currently not a priority. What is a priority is finding the best guy possible to be the 12th man. I'd rather have a NVE or a Big Dog on the end of that bench come the postseason than some young guy who could be something....someday.
The future is now. The Spurs have the rights to plenty of young prospects and it's not like the core of this team is that old (all under 30 heading into this season).
this looks like the only good move phoenix has made all summer.
Apparently Spurs Mgmt didn't think so. Was his name ever mentioned by anyone INSIDE the Spurs org?
Which begs the question as to why the Spurs are "pussy footin'" around with Finley? Since I presume Jones was one of the players rader, they should have gone after him before PHX.
I highly doubt Finley signs with the Suns.That would be great for the suns.
Thomas/Burke
Amare/ Grant
Marion/ Jackson/ Jones
Finley/ Bell
Nash/Barbosa
...looks dangerous...
James Jones is alright, I don't like him too much.
thats the thing maybe the spurs really were not looking at Jones, maybe they were just keeping the pressure and attention off of another player they want like Maurice Evans or someone else; maybe they are working on a sign and trade or something like that, we will never know what Pop and the spurs front office are thinking of until we see it on nba.com or espn.com
Withourt Q & JJ, the suns won't win 60 games this year.
No one INSIDE the Spurs organization has mentioned any player's name this summer. But yes, according to several sources, he was one of the players that the Spurs have been targeting.
Who's the 11th man?
The Spurs have roster spots to fill. A young 3 to eventually replace Bowen is definitely a priority for the Spurs. All the guys other than Finley that the Spurs are interested in are young 3's - Maurice Evans, James Jones, Melvin Sanders, Matt Barnes etc.
That a shame. On paper Jones looked like a good pickup. I wonder if D'Antoni is actually going to try to use his bench this year.
GD it Kori, you stole my thunder, or maybe it was just the mexican food from last night. :-)
Anyway, i'm glad this is coming to fruition. When Jones got playing time he put up some good #'s. He'll backup Marion here and could replace him based on salary and how often Marion is mentioned in trade rumors. Best of all he's not going to the Spurs.
He would have been a great pickup for the Spurs as Bowens backup, and possible replacement down the road. But Indiana needed to clear Lux tax space and didn't want to absorb any $$ back and they didn't want to lose him for nothing. So the Spurs signing him as a FA was unlikely. A S&T with the Suns was perfect for Indiana.
The Suns probably won't get Finley, but I'll take Jones instead.
WOW at just how overrated ths guy is.
thats so weak, we better resign brown and robinson and call it a summer already, this is getting lame
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