Spurs Free Agency: Why Signing Tre Jones Was an Easy Decision
The Jones brothers are going places.
Just over a week ago, a three-team trade sending "unicorn" center Kristaps Porzingis to Boston saw veteran point guard Tyus Jones thrown in the trade loop from Memphis — the place he'd spent the last four seasons.
Now with the Washington Wizards alongside their Kyle Kuzma-Jordan Poole duo, Jones has a chance to build off of his best season yet and keep his rhythm going.
But his younger brother, Tre, on the other hand? He's not going anywhere.
Tre Jones is also coming off of his best season, though still plenty young, and he's now set to call San Antonio home for at least the next two seasons as its young Spurs team looks to build around No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama.
The decision was announced Friday evening, as Jones agreed to return on a two-year, $20 million deal securing his roster spot with the San Antonio Spurs through the 2024-25 season.
The only surprising part of his agreement, however, may have been how quickly it was made. Of the course the Spurs wanted to keep him around — and here's why:
Simply put, Jones fits Gregg Popovich's bill. He may not be a standout star just yet, but he's got potential, which is all Popovich needs. Sure, the Spurs haven't been at the top of the Western Conference for nearly a decade, but the veteran coach is still "having fun" coaching his up-and-coming players because of guys like Tre.
In just three seasons, the point guard has improved in just about every category. Scoring? He went from 2.5 points to six, and last season, he averaged 12.9 — more than double the year prior. Defense? His steal totals went from 0.2 to now 1.3, while his rebounding numbers improved sixfold since his rookie season.
Jones has solidified himself as a solid point guard with the ability to run an offense, and if he's already doing that in year three, his ceiling is even higher, which he knows.
"I feel like I'm in a good position right now," Jones said following the Spurs' regular-season finale. "I made a lot of strides this year. I've gotten a lot better in the areas that I wanted to. I was given [an] opportunity this year that you're not always given, so I'm very blessed to be [where I am]."
Perhaps his self confidence has also made him a very coachable player. The NBA has seen what happens when a player's confidence is called into question (i.e. Ben Simmons in the playoffs), but while there is a strong line between confident and cocky, Jones falls on the right side of it.
He also falls in the right places at the right times on the court, which isn't a coachable trait. Last season, Jones had the highest Win Share on the Spurs, meaning that of San Antonio's 22 victories, his contribution given his playing time was one of the team's most valued.
The 23-year-old started 65 of the 68 games he played in, and depending on how rotations and chemistry develop over the offseason, he could be in line to maintain a similar role this season, which would allow him to continue to expand his game.
"I don't really want to become one-dimensional," Jones said. "I want to make sure that I'm getting bigger and stronger to defend better. I want to continue to try to get more athletic, and improve my finishing around the rim. [I want] to improve my game in any way possible."
Earlier in the season, Jones called Austin he and his teammates' "second home." In order for that to be true, however, he'd need to first have a home, which — as it has been for the last three seasons — is San Antonio.
That's how it was when he first entered the league, and that's how it's going to stay. At least for the next two years — which is something both Jones and the Spurs can look forward to.
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