Expendable: Tyus Jones
Tyus Jones is having a good season. For all intents and purposes, he has lived up to the expectations. In fact, he has improved his efficiency, lowered his turnover rate, and is averaging a career-high in points per game. He has been one of the most consistent Wizards all season and continues to be one of the best assist-to-turnover players in the entire league. He is a valuable floor general.
Then why would the Wizards trade him?
On a team with Jordan Poole and Kyle Kuzma dominating the ball, he is simply superfluous. Add Bilal Coulibaly and Deni Avdija, who also need to get reps running the offense as part of their development, into the mix, and there isn’t space for Tyus Jones. Jones has the seventh-highest usage rate on the team with 16.2%. If the Wizards aren’t going to trust him with the ball and allow him to run pick-and-roll, there is no reason to keep him around.
Jones and Poole backcourt is undersized and defensively challenged. If you are not using Jones properly on the offensive end, it doesn’t make too much sense to have him as a starter next to Poole. Especially since Jones doesn’t provide enough of a shooting threat to be a good off-ball player.
In Jones’ stead, the Wizards can use a 3-and-D type of player. A player who can hit shots on offense, and take on tough defensive assignments on the other end could be a better fit for this group.
Considering Jones’ team-friendly expiring contract, he should garner plenty of attention on the trade market. While he is playing well, the Wizards should think about cashing in rather than having to give him a long-term deal next offseason.