UPDATE: Minnesota Timberwolves Miss Out on Signing Local Fan Favorite Tyus Jones

The Minnesota Timberwolves still have an open roster slot ahead of the 2024-25 NBA season. Although, due to already being over the second apron of luxury tax spending, they can only sign a player to a veteran minimum contract. This limits their options significantly.

One might argue the Timberwolves have no need to add another player. After all, they carried just 14 players for the bulk of last season, opting to keep the final spot open for potential 10-day contracts, such as T.J. Warren. Another way they could fill that roster spot in-season is if they took on an additional player via trade.

However, the Timberwolves may be better off signing one of the top free agents available. After all, the Wolves are finally contenders, which means they’re actually an attractive landing spot for once. But who would the Timberwolves even sign? There’s one obvious option sitting right there in front of us.

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Do the Minnesota Timberwolves need another point guard?

Let’s dive into the point guard situation before we get too deep into the weeds here. With Mike Conley and Rob Dillingham, the Timberwolves’ floor general rotation is already strong. But Chris Finch loves his point guards, especially if they can bring a high IQ to the floor. It’s why Monte Morris, who has one of the NBA’s best assist to turnover ratios, was a great fit.

But Morris is gone now, and so is Jordan McLaughlin. Again, with Conley and Dillingham, it wouldn’t seem like there are any point guard minutes available. Yet, we’ve also seen Coach Finch bust out rotations that feature two lead guards.

With Morris and McLaughlin gone, one ideal replacement would be someone like Ricky Rubio, but there’s been no indication he wants to return to the NBA. Instead, Rubio has signed with Joventut Badalona in Spain. However, now another solution has emerged, and he’s one Timberwolves fans know all too well.

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Tyus Jones was open to returning to Timberwolves, before Suns swooped in

Burnsville native Tyus Jones entered the league as the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 24th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. After four years operating as a backup point guard, Jones left the first chance he got as a free agent, thanks to the Memphis Grizzlies offering a three-year, $26 million contract.

But he didn’t get his first full-time chance at a starting role until four years later when the Grizzlies shipped him to one of the NBA’s worst teams, the Washington Wizards. Jones started all 66 games he appeared in, but for whatever reason, he wasn’t able to land a respectable contract this time around in free agency.

Tyus Jones stats last season: 12 PPG, 7.3 APG, 1 TO, 2.7 RPG, 1.1 SPG, 41.4% 3PT

Somehow still unsigned heading into Saturday, Jones, 28, was expected to land with a team in the very near future, and one of the options was the Timberwolves. But they weren’t the only team pursuing the former Duke star.

According to Washington Wizards reporter Troy Haliburton, Jones was prioritizing a return to one of his former teams. Yet, other possibilities include the Atlanta Hawks and Phoenix Suns.

I been sitting on a Tyus Jones update and wanted to blog about it, but looks like things might be progressing because teams are getting active today. Tyus will be looking to sign with one of his former teams Minnesota/Memphis, with the Suns and Hawks also showing interest.

— Troy Haliburton (@TroyHalibur) July 26, 2024

While signing Jones would have been awesome for many reasons, he ended up signing a veteran minimum deal with the Suns, where he has a much better chance at starting.

Had the Timberwolves signed Jones, once again, he wouldn’t have been looking at a featured role, but he would have definitely earned plenty of minutes in Finchy’s rotation. Not to mention, he would have been an invaluable source for a 19-year-old Rob Dillingham to go to with any questions about catching up to speed in the NBA.

Jones is the exact type of player the Wolves seek out. He does not need many shots to make an impact. His assist-to-turnover ratio is legendary, and he’s a high-percentage shooter, even from a distance. Even though Coach Finch has never worked with him, he would have been the perfect fit. Oh well.

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