NBA Trade Rumors: Wizards Want 1st-Round Draft Pick for Tyus Jones Amid Lakers Buzz

Two days away from the NBA trade deadline, the Washington Wizards have set their asking price for Tyus Jones.

Per The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski, the Wizards are believed to be seeking a first-round draft pick in exchange for the 27-year-old point guard. NBA insider Marc Stein also reported that Jones and Delon Wright are "increasingly considered more likely" to be traded before the deadline than Kyle Kuzma.

The Los Angeles Lakers are among the teams that have been keeping tabs on Jones' status.

Krawczynski noted the Minnesota Timberwolves have shown interest in Jones, especially because of how similar his style of play is to Mike Conley Jr.

Adding Jones would also allow the T-Wolves to pull back on some of Conley's minutes with six back-to-backs on the schedule after the All-Star break.

The asking price of a first-round pick could be prohibitive for several teams, including the Timberwolves and Lakers.

Even though Minnesota has first-round picks in 2024, 2028 and 2030, league rules prevent the team from trading any of them because it already sent a 2023 first-rounder to the Utah Jazz and still owes picks in 2025, 2027 and 2029, along with a 2026 pick swap, as part of the Rudy Gobert trade.

Teams are prevented from trading two consecutive first-round draft picks, and they can't trade picks more than seven drafts in advance. The next first-rounder the Timberwolves will be able to deal is in 2031, but they can't use it until after the 2024 draft.

The Lakers are in a similar position because of picks they still owe in trades, but they do have their 2029 first-round selection to include in a deal. Jones is a good player who addresses a need they have, but that pick might be too rich for their liking since it's the last big chip they have to play if they remain insistent on not moving Austin Reaves.

It would be a surprise if Jones doesn't get traded before Thursday's 3 p.m. ET deadline. He's in the final season of his contract with a $14 million expiring salary, and the Wizards own the second-worst record in the NBA (9-40).

Jones is averaging career-highs in points (12.2) and assists (6.3) per game. He's also shooting a career-best 49.1 percent from the field and 39.2 percent from three-point range on 3.7 attempts per game.