On Wednesday, the Memphis Grizzlies laid the smackdown on the Golden State Warriors, and Tyus Jones played a crucial role in the victory.
It was nothing new for Jones, who has been a stellar backup point guard for Memphis. The Grizzlies finished with 20 wins and 5 losses in games without Ja Morant during the regular season. Jones was one of the main reasons for the success.
Per 100 possessions: Jones averaged 16.1 points and 6.9 assists in minutes with Morant — and 20.9 points and 10.7 assists without him.
Earlier this season, I called Jones of the most underrated players in the league. His value is his playmaking, and he can make an impact with a low usage rate. But we saw some of his scoring potential against the Warriors, recording a team-high 21 points on just 12 field-goal attempts.
We don’t yet know what will happen with player options for James Harden and Kyrie Irving. But otherwise, the top-tier free agency talent is Deandre Ayton, Zach LaVine, Miles Bridges, Jalen Brunson, and Anfernee Simons.
However, there is a fairly sizable dropoff after that, and Jones might just be the next-best player available. If he decides to leave Memphis as a free agent, here are some of the top destinations he could call home.