NBA Trade Rumors: Tyus Jones 'Most Likely' Wizards Player to Be Traded at Deadline
As the Feb. 8 NBA trade deadline approaches, ESPN's Brian Windhorst believes that Washington Wizards' point guard Tyus Jones could be on the move.
On his podcast, Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective, he said Jones is the "most likely" Wizard to be traded at the deadline. ESPN's Tim Bontemps and Tim MacMahon agreed and also mentioned center Daniel Gafford as a potential piece to be moved.
Jones, who was dealt to Washington from the Memphis Grizzlies this offseason, is putting up 12.4 points, 6.2 assists and 2.9 rebounds per game this year while shooting an efficient 50.4% from the field and 41.8% from deep.
If the Wizards decide to trade Jones, they could be looking for a substantial return. According to Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer, Washington is looking for "at least a first-round pick" in return for Jones. Fischer noted that the asking price for Jones could be an effect of the Miami Heat trading Kyle Lowry and a first-round pick for Charlotte Hornets point guard Terry Rozier, setting the standard for what a point guard is worth in this year's NBA landscape.
The pressure for the Wizards to acquire a first-round pick for Jones also comes from ownership. According Windhorst, Washington's front office has been given a mandate from ownership to collect first-round picks at the trade deadline.
"They have to do this," Windhorst said. "That's a mandate."
Washington is having a dreadful start to the season at 7-37 and the Wizards ultimately decided to move head coach Wes Unseld Jr. to the front office and make Brian Keefe, who was formerly an assistant, the interim head coach, marking a change in direction midway through the season.
The Wizards are clearly in rebuild mode, so racking up first-round picks will be instrumental to their growth moving forward.
