Mavs GM: Derrick Jones Jr. Contract a 'Priority' in NBA Free Agency After Finals Loss

Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison says re-signing Derrick Jones Jr. is a "priority" this offseason, ESPN's Tim MacMahon reported.

"I don't know how we're going to do it, but he's a priority... He's priority one, 1A and 1B," Harrison said, per MacMahon. "I think he fits in with our team. He loves it here and we have to figure out obviously the dynamics to get him to stay. But that's a priority and we'll do what we have to do to get it done."

Jones joined the Mavericks on a one-year, $2.7 veteran's minimum contract for the 2023-24 season. He started all 22 playoff games from the Mavericks as he averaged a block per game to help lead Dallas to the Finals.

Jones is the only member of the rotation that led the Mavericks to within three wins of a title not already slated to return next season.

Dallas stars Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving, as well as power forward PJ Washington and center Daniel Gafford, are all signed on for the 2024-25 campaign.

Jones' agent, Aaron Turner, told The Athletic's Tim Cato in May that his client hopes to return to Dallas for a second season.

"He loves his teammates, he loves Jason Kidd, he really likes the front office, Nico and (assistant general manager) Matt Riccardi," Turner said, per Cato. "He wants to be back."

Both Cato and MacMahon noted that, despite mutual interest in bringing Jones back to Dallas, the Mavericks will be limited in how much they can offer the veteran defender.

Because they are at the taxpayer midlevel exception, the Mavericks can offer Jones up to $5.2 million. The team would need to move salary in order to qualify for the non-taxpayer midlevel exception and offer him up to $12.9 million.

That could open the possibility that other teams that are able to stay below the first apron of the salary cap could pull Jones away by offering a higher salary.

It is likely the Mavericks will not let their starting wing walk without trying to convince him to re-sign. After regularly being assigned to guard opponents' most dangerous scoring during the deep playoff run, Jones' defense will be a key part of the team's hopes of running things back next season.