Washington Wizards Free Agency: Terrence Jones Could Be Diamond In Rough

By Ward Watkins | May 28, 2016

May 6, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets forward Terrence Jones (6) in game two of the second round of the NBA Playoffs against the Los Angeles Clippers at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

The Washington Wizards need to find a young big man and Terrence Jones is exactly the type of player that fits into their style of play

I know I seem enamored with Bismack Biyombo, but just about every year there’s a young player left for dead who has a resurgence.

After looking long and hard at the guys with unrealized potential and even trying to write about it a couple weeks ago (cheap plug), I’ve landed on a player who I think could rise from the ashes and become at the very least a serviceable contributor again: Terrence Jones.

The 18^th pick of the 2012 NBA Draft out of Kentucky, Terrence Jones had a decent rookie year before having a really promising second season, where he started 71 games, averaging 16 points and nine rebounds per-36 minutes, with a true shooting percentage of 58%, and a win share of 7.3.

He was definitely on the upswing moving into the 2014-15 season, but a scary nerve injury cut his season short, playing in only 33 games.

Still, he maintained his solid per-36 numbers and improved his 3-point shooting to 35% (OK, fine, stats can be skewed disclaimer: he only had 37 attempts).

Jones showed loads of talent and I know I’m not the only who at the time had concocted several hair-brained schemes to have the Washington Wizards trade for him.

Last summer, Jones and Houston did not come to an agreement on a contract extension, so, much like Bradley Beal, he played this season with the hopes of balling out and getting a big contract this coming offseason.

When keeping it real goes wrong.

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Jones was inconsistent and frustrating all season, at times playing big minutes and at others logging DNP-CDs.

Over the course of 2015-16, he lost minutes to Donatas Motiejunas, Trevor Ariza, Clint Capela, Josh Smith and even Michael Beasley.

There were injuries here and there, but it was like open tryouts for the four spot in Houston’s struggling and seemingly dysfunctional lineup, and Terrence Jones was not only not able to seize the opportunity, he had fallen largely out of the rotation.

His field goal and effective field goal percentages dropped eight and six percent, respectively, from the previous season.

His true shooting percentage, as high as 58%, was under 52%.

His PER and rebounding plummeted, and his defense had become a liability. In the words of the great Steve Spurrier, Jones was flat out “not very good” this season.

He is a RESTRICTED free agent this offseason (meaning Houston can match any offer), and he could actually thrive under new head coach Mike D’Antoni’s approach, but the baggage may be (hopefully) too much for the front office to be willing to continue.

With such a disaster of a season to go along with a four-year tenure filled with injuries and disappointment (this sounds eerily close to home), Terrence Jones’s career in Houston may have whimpered to an end when the Rockets quit lost to the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the playoffs.

But much like Bismack Biyombo, a player who has worn out his welcome and chances with his original team, Jones may benefit from a change of scenery and outlook.

Terrence Jones has the size (6’9, 250+), versatility (PF, but has played 1/3 of his minutes at center the last two seasons) and stretchiness (pretty good rebounder, good ballhandler for his size and has respectable range out to the three-point line) needed in today’s NBA and would be a FANTASTIC buy low option for the Washington Wizards.

Without watching too much film, Jones’s skillset is somewhat similar to that of Markieff Morris, but this is hardly a skillset that the Wizards need less of.

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He would be an excellent jolt to the second unit, could provide solid insurance for Keef in the event of injury and/or drug arrests, and would add more versatility and flexibility in small ball lineups.

I’d have to think about how Jones and Morris would look on the floor together, but I think that could even work fine in spot situations at the 4-5 (Heck, Marcus Morris and Tobias Harris are on the court together A LOT at the 3-4 for Detroit and that hasn’t been terrible. Wait, am I helping or hurting my argument? Errr..let’s move on).

It’s a risk – and for all we know Houston is priming an offer to keep him in town – but Terrence Jones is a risk worth looking into if you ask me.

With such a disappointing end to his rookie contract, his potential, and the salary cap jumping to $10 billion this offseason and then to half the GDP the following season, I’m totally clueless what the market price will be for him.

But if it’s reasonable, I’m here for trying to find out.

Next: Harrison Barnes to the Wizards? No Thanks

Every year there’s a diamond in the rough that finds new life and new energy in a new location. Terrence Jones could very well be this year’s diamond.

Mr. Grunfeld, call your office.

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