Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Tyus Jones is coming off an MVP season. Ok, it was a NBA Summer League MVP but still, it was an MVP performance. He’s a young talent out of Duke University who hasn’t really received a chance yet in the NBA. He was highly touted coming out of the amateur ranks.
After winning the 2015 NCAA title with Duke, he was honored with the most outstanding player award. He also won a litany of awards during his time as a high schooler in his home state of Minnesota. Unfortunately, it appears his homecoming might be coming to an early end.
Following according to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical on Yahoo! Sports.
Several teams – including Philadelphia and New Orleans – have shown interest in point guard Tyus Jones, 20, whom the Wolves are more open to moving in the short term, league sources said.
Thibodeau is determined to win games and make a run for the Western Conference playoffs this season, which complicates trade discussions that could diminish Minnesota in the short term.
The Wolves can stand to lose Tyus Jones, especially if they receive something good in return. Whether that’s a pick or they find a way to acquire Iman Shumpert from the Cleveland Cavaliers will remain to be seen.
The two teams that do want him, the Pelicans and 76ers, would definetely welcome a young point guard in their system to develop him alongside some potentially good pairings with interior players. In New Orleans, it’s of course Anthony Davis but in Philly, Tyus could posisbly be reunited with his college teammate Jahlil Okafor plus Joel Embiid and Nerlens Noel.
Tyus should hope that he gets dealt to one of these teams. Currently in Minnesota, he’s going to be relegated as the third point guard for now, unless Minnesota does end up dealing Ricky Rubio.
