Phoenix Suns point guard compendium: 15 potential trade targets

Tyus Jones

2018-19 stat line: 18.5 MPG, 4.7 PPG, 3.0 APG, 1.7 RPG, 1.1 SPG, .342/.289/.714 shooting splits

Pros:

• Low-cost option thanks to Derrick Rose’s renaissance
• Perfectly fits Phoenix’s timeline while still providing an upgrade
• His 6’5″ wingspan and defense would help next to Booker
• Team-controlled option as an impending restricted free agent

Cons:

• Are we sure he’d be a capable starting point guard?
• The upgrade might not be significant enough
• 3-point shooting is a notable weakness
• Playmaking isn’t anything to write home about

A possible trade:

Breakdown:

Thanks to the presence of Jeff Teague, Derrick Rose‘s unlikely career revival and Tom Thibodeau’s love for his former MVP, fourth-year point guard Tyus Jones is averaging a mere 18.5 minutes per game. The raw stat line for this plus/minus darling may not be pretty, especially with such low shooting percentages, but there’s reason to believe a change of scenery would do him some good.

As currently constructed, the Minnesota Timberwolves don’t have the opening in the rotation for Jones to get the development time he’s needed for the last three years, even with Thibs occasionally playing two point guards together. Phoenix could provide him with that opportunity.

Even as a comparatively low-cost option, there’s some obvious risk here on the Suns’ part, since no one knows what Jones is truly capable of in an expanded role. He’s got the length to compete defensively, but he’s also only 6’2″, is a career 33.4 percent 3-point shooter and his playmaking leaves something to be desired.

Most Wolves fans are smart enough to know the franchise needs to hold onto Jones and see what he can do over the rest of this season, but for Thibodeau, would an unused bench shooter like Troy Daniels and a second round pick be enough to facilitate a deal?