Chicago’s status as a middling team with abundant guard depth has created a situation where the Bulls may be active sellers at the trade deadline. The Timberwolves could be on the other end of the deal.
Coby White is the name that garners the most attention, as he’s the most prolific scorer seemingly available off the Bulls’ bench. But Ayo Dosunmu’s versatility and reliability are also intriguing.
ADVERTISEMENT
And then there’s another name that’s recently entered the fold — Tre Jones.
Minnesota has been linked to all three players recently by the Chicago Sun-Times. Jones is a name with which local basketball fans are quite familiar, given his high school dominance at Apple Valley.
And, frankly, the player Jones was while donning an Eagles jersey somewhat closely resembles who he’s been for Chicago in recent weeks.
In a win on Jan. 20 over the Clippers, Jones recorded 15 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds. Two days prior, he had 10 points and 10 assists in a win over Brooklyn. He had four steals last week in a win over Utah.
Over his last 18 games heading into Thursday’s tilt in Minnesota, Jones was averaging 12.3 points and 6.8 assists per game while shooting 39% from distance. Those are numbers any team would be attracted to, but especially the Wolves, who could use one more two-way player in their rotation, particularly at the guard spot.
Minnesota had a front-row seat to witness the full extent of the guard’s value in a loss Thursday to Chicago. Jones had 12 points and seven assists on offense while keeping Anthony Edwards in check on the other end. Chicago won Jones’ 27 minutes by nine points.
“He just finds ways to make plays and make things happen. He had a lot of responsibility on both ends of the floor,” Bulls coach Billy Donovan said. “He did a lot of things to impact winning tonight.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Particularly late. In the final minute alone, Jones had a steal, knocked another ball away from Jaden McDaniels to get Chicago the ball back, and scored the go-ahead bucket on a drive off an in-bounds play.
“Coach drew up a good play and they bit on it, so I was able to get into the lane and get a layup to go,” Jones said. “That’s the best time to play the game. It’s why we play the game is to compete, to try to go out there and win games. When the game is close at the end of the game, that’s why you put all the work in, it’s why you do everything in the summers and things like that. … It’s just the most fun.”
Frankly, for a Wolves team where the point guard spot is in flux in the near and long term, Jones is intriguing. While not an identical player, his ability to impact both ends of the floor more closely resembles the impact Nickeil Alexander-Walker had for Minnesota off the bench than anyone currently on the roster can provide.
He’s also ascending. The 26-year-old hit his stride the moment he landed in Chicago via trade last season. Over his final 12 games with the Bulls before injury ended his season, Jones averaged 14.3 points, 6.2 assists and 3.8 rebounds.
He re-signed with Chicago on a three-year, $24 million deal in the offseason and proved invaluable for the Bulls while star guard Josh Giddey was out with an injury. Even with Giddey back in the fold on Thursday, Jones was still an integral part of Chicago’s equation.
It’s why the Bulls are unlikely to part with Jones, unless they receive an impressive return in a deal. He’s a talented winner on a good contract. Those situations don’t come around often.
All indications are that Chicago thinks highly of the guard and, if anything, would be willing to part with other players to clear more runway for Jones.
ADVERTISEMENT
The two sides are a good match.
Jones credits part of his current success to what he learned during his first four and a half seasons with the Spurs, about being a professional who’s ready for any opportunity. He learned the value of impacting the game in any minutes you get, regardless of role, as well as the value of culture building.
Chicago’s up-tempo approach has fit Jones like a glove, and the guard lauded Donovan for the belief he’s preached in the point guard, allowing Jones’ confidence to blossom.
That, he noted, is what made everything “click.”
The result is the well-rounded, two-way player that those in the Minnesota basketball scene watched grow up locally, and always assumed would reach these heights.
Jones admitted he gets a sense of satisfaction from stacking productive years and contracts at the sport’s highest level — evidence that the former second-round draft pick’s work is paying off.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” Jones said.
ADVERTISEMENT
And he only just now seems to be getting started.
“It’s definitely been a lot of fun to be able to produce on the court like I know how to,” Jones said. “But I think the most joy I get is when we win games. Doesn’t really matter the numbers, I guess. As long as we’re winning, I’m happy. So that’s what sticks out to me.”
Winning in front of friends and family brought a little extra joy on Thursday.
“It still is business as usual at the end of the day,” he said. “But it’s always good to come home and get a win. I haven’t had too many in this arena as a pro, so it definitely feels good.”
____________________________________
This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers. Learn more about the news services FCC uses here.