NBA contract update: Free agent guard makes new move with Denver Nuggets after traded twice at the deadline

The Denver Nuggets have moved quickly to address a clear roster need. Free agent guard Tyus Jones has signed with Denver after a turbulent stretch that saw him traded twice at the deadline and later waived.

ESPN’s Shams Charania reported the deal, which gives the 29-year-old a fresh opportunity with a Western Conference contender.Jones’ path to Denver has been anything but stable. He opened the season with the Orlando Magic before being dealt to the Charlotte Hornets and then rerouted to the Dallas Mavericks. Dallas waived him to create room for two-way guard Ryan Nembhard. Now, with Denver seeking steadiness behind All-Star Jamal Murray, Jones steps into a situation where his playmaking history could fill a pressing gap.

Tyus Jones reportedly signs with the Denver Nuggets

Denver’s interest reflects a specific need. The Nuggets average 6.5 assists per game from their bench, the third-fewest in the league. That lack of second-unit creation has lingered all season. Across 11 NBA seasons, Jones has built a reputation as a careful floor general with a strong assist-to-turnover ratio.

In eight games with Dallas, he averaged 8.1 assists per 36 minutes and posted a 6.0 assist-to-turnover ratio, the third-best mark in the NBA during that stretch.

Those numbers show he can still organize an offense in short bursts. Over his career, Jones has averaged 7.3 points and 4.3 assists. His most productive run came with the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons, when he averaged 9.5 points and 4.8 assists across 153 games and entered discussions for the Sixth Man of the Year award.Denver views him as a reliable ball-handler who can maintain tempo when Murray sits.

The Nuggets have added depth before, yet the need for a steady reserve point guard remained. Jones now has a defined role: manage possessions, limit turnovers, and support a playoff rotation.

Tyus Jones was waived by the Dallas Mavericks

Jones’ signing comes after a difficult year. Expectations were high when he joined Orlando on a one-year deal. Instead, he averaged 3.0 points and 2.4 assists in 48 appearances, shooting 34.2 percent from the field and 29.4 percent from three.

His production fell from the previous season with the Phoenix Suns, where he averaged 10.2 points and 5.3 assists while shooting 44.8 percent overall and 41.4 percent from beyond the arc.He was traded to Charlotte at the deadline and later moved to Dallas. His stint with the Mavericks did not reverse the trend. He averaged 3.9 points and 3.8 assists in 16.6 minutes per game, shooting 38.2 percent from the field and 21.1 percent from three before being waived.With few options emerging, Denver offered Jones a new path. The Nuggets now hope his experience and ball security translate into more stable bench production as the season moves forward. As of now, the exact value of Jones’ new contract is not known.