Fans were saddened to see Jones Jr. leave, but he has the opportunity to lead the Clippers.
The Dallas Mavericks have had a busy offseason, adding three new players while still having an open roster space. After it became clear that Derrick Jones Jr. would not be returning, they signed Naji Marshall away from the New Orleans Pelicans. Instead, he signed a three-year, $30 million contract with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Jones Jr. was interviewed by media at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas and asked why he chose the Clippers. “I spoke with the ownership, front office, and coaching staff. They wanted me to come in and fill the 3/4 role, be aggressive offensively and defensively. “Go out there and try to win the championship.”
The Clippers lost Paul George in free agency to the Philadelphia 76ers, prompting them to consider alternative choices. They added Jones Jr. and Nic Batum while re-signing James Harden. After falling to the Mavericks in six games in the first round of the playoffs, some expected them to come back and make some changes around the edges, but they couldn’t reach a deal with George, who was seeking a fourth year on his contract.
Dallas offered Jones Jr. the same contract that Naji Marshall signed: three years, $27 million. Jones will earn less than Marshall after taxes, but he had a simpler road to joining the Clippers. With Klay Thompson and Marshall joining the Mavericks, he wasn’t guaranteed to start. He was explosive for the Mavs in the playoffs, with his on-ball defense crucial against players like George and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and his shooting took off in the Oklahoma City series. Unfortunately, his strong shooting couldn’t carry over into the NBA Finals.