After getting a participation trophy with the Oklahoma City Thunder during his rookie season, Dillon Jones found himself rerouted to the Washington Wizards during the 2025 offseason. The Wizards proceeded to let him explore his future endeavors after releasing him before the start of 2025-26.
The former first round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft of the Thunder entered this year's NBA G League Draft to get a fresh start. Jones was selected first overall by the South Bay Lakers, who, in case it was not clear by the name, are the G League affiliate of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Former NBA first round pick and NBA champion Dillon Jones goes No. 1 overall to the @SouthBayLakers in the 2025 NBA G League Draft! 👏 pic.twitter.com/svMLRzBJ3G
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) October 25, 2025
There was a quiet excitement about Jones joining the developmental system of the Lakers. With the right type of offensive growth, this was someone who was viewed as having the potential to make an impact at the NBA level some day. If the former Thunder forward does that, it won't be in Los Angeles.
Jonathan Givony reported, "The Rip City Remix have traded for 2024 NBA first-round pick Dillon Jones from the South Bay Lakers, a source told DraftExpress. ... In return, South Bay will receive two future first-round picks from Rip City and the rights to Will Richardson."
Lakers pass up on opportunity to develop Dillon Jones' two-way upside
Jones did not make a huge impact during his rookie season in Oklahoma City. The 26th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft averaged 2.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 10.2 minutes per game, shooting 38.3 percent from the field and 25.4 percent from beyond the arc.
Perhaps in a different situation, a former first round pick would have warranted more patience than what Jones received. The Thunder are just too spoiled with talent and draft capital to have afforded him that much.
Jones will be 24 years old by the end of the month. Roster spots have filled up quickly in Oklahoma City. There were never going to be any guarantees for someone who did not immediately show promise out of the gates.
The Lakers could have been a different story. This team has been in desperate search of two-way help on the wings.
Jones was a star of that caliber for Weber State in his final year of NCAA basketball. The Wildcats wing averaged 20.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 2.0 steals per game, shooting 48.9 percent from the field and 32.4 percent from deep.
Maybe the advanced age had the Lakers believing there just wasn't a ton of room for growth, despite his selection. Perhaps they always viewed him as a tradeable asset. Whatever the case is, should Jones eventually emerge as an NBA role player, it will not happen in purple and gold.