Geaux Damian Jones Geuax

[Randolphkeys]

Taking a moment to reframe the JA injury news. While I believe Allen is far and away a superior player to Jones, there are benefits to playing Damian Jones early in the season to see what the Cavs have in our backup center.

Under JB Bickerstaff, the Cavs always start out of the gates prepared. Even in the lackluster 2020 season, the Cavs came out of the gates as a surprise team. The past two seasons, Cavs fans were disappointed that the season ended with our team playing their worst ball, but we got to the playoffs by playing great October and November ball. I do believe the team will start out sharp.

Why not see how Jones fits now? Maybe he deserves more time when Allen eases back into the lineup, essentially splitting minutes when that time comes. This could also lead to Jones having more value at the trade deadline.

 

[TheISHT]

Splitting minutes and preserving Allen should be Plan A above all else.

 

[Pierre Pan]

Taking a moment to reframe the JA injury news. While I believe Allen is far and away a superior player to Jones, there are benefits to playing Damian Jones early in the season to see what the Cavs have in our backup center.

Under JB Bickerstaff, the Cavs always start out of the gates prepared. Even in the lackluster 2020 season, the Cavs came out of the gates as a surprise team. The past two seasons, Cavs fans were disappointed that the season ended with our team playing their worst ball, but we got to the playoffs by playing great October and November ball. I do believe the team will start out sharp.

Why not see how Jones fits now? Maybe he deserves more time when Allen eases back into the lineup, essentially splitting minutes when that time comes. This could also lead to Jones having more value at the trade deadline.

I agree with your premise that it will be useful to see what ”we have“ in Jones ; however, I can’t see how a guy who has been with 7 teams (Lakers twice ) in 8 years who has had zero value at any trade deadline (or at any season’s end, for that matter) is all of a sudden going to be of any significance at this year’s. The only player that he’s ever been traded for is Omari Spellman who is presently playing in the star laden Korean Basketball League. I hope I’m wrong but it seems like a bit optimistic that 6 other teams have all been wrong about him.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

I agree with your premise that it will be useful to see what ”we have“ in Jones ; however, I can’t see how a guy who has been with 7 teams (Lakers twice ) in 8 years who has had zero value at any trade deadline (or at any season’s end, for that matter) is all of a sudden going to be of any significance at this year’s. The only player that he’s ever been traded for is Omari Spellman who is presently playing in the star laden Korean Basketball League. I hope I’m wrong but it seems like a bit optimistic that 6 other teams have all been wrong about him.

Party pooper.

 

[Cavatt]

I agree with your premise that it will be useful to see what ”we have“ in Jones ; however, I can’t see how a guy who has been with 7 teams (Lakers twice ) in 8 years who has had zero value at any trade deadline (or at any season’s end, for that matter) is all of a sudden going to be of any significance at this year’s. The only player that he’s ever been traded for is Omari Spellman who is presently playing in the star laden Korean Basketball League. I hope I’m wrong but it seems like a bit optimistic that 6 other teams have all been wrong about him.

Lauri

 

[Pierre Pan]

Lauri

Lauri had been with only 2 teams (prior to the Jazz trade), had been a significant contributor on both Chicago and Cleveland, is STILL 2 years younger than Damian Jones , hadn’t suffered 2 torn pectoral muscles and accompanying surgeries and was deemed a significant trade chip which allowed us to obtain Donovan Mitchell. How is that a valid comparison?

 

[Randolphkeys]

I agree with your premise that it will be useful to see what ”we have“ in Jones ; however, I can’t see how a guy who has been with 7 teams (Lakers twice ) in 8 years who has had zero value at any trade deadline (or at any season’s end, for that matter) is all of a sudden going to be of any significance at this year’s. The only player that he’s ever been traded for is Omari Spellman who is presently playing in the star laden Korean Basketball League. I hope I’m wrong but it seems like a bit optimistic that 6 other teams have all been wrong about him.

Three of those teams featured Luke Walton on the staff. His rookie year, Walton was his bigman coach. With the Kings, Jones started 20 games for Walton. Now he's back with a coach who sees something. My guess is that Jones understands the type of motion offense Walton is adding as Bickerstaff's top assistant.

 

[Bob_The_Cat]

Taking a moment to reframe the JA injury news. While I believe Allen is far and away a superior player to Jones, there are benefits to playing Damian Jones early in the season to see what the Cavs have in our backup center.

Under JB Bickerstaff, the Cavs always start out of the gates prepared. Even in the lackluster 2020 season, the Cavs came out of the gates as a surprise team. The past two seasons, Cavs fans were disappointed that the season ended with our team playing their worst ball, but we got to the playoffs by playing great October and November ball. I do believe the team will start out sharp.

Why not see how Jones fits now? Maybe he deserves more time when Allen eases back into the lineup, essentially splitting minutes when that time comes. This could also lead to Jones having more value at the trade deadline.

Maybe it’s just me, but even with Allen healthy, I felt it’d be beneficial to add another big. I don’t really count TT in the equation because I’m not really expecting him to play much even with Allen out.

Wade might be the guy we need to step up more than anyone to be honest. With Mobley playing more at C we need to fill minutes at PF. Maybe Isaiah will get some chances early on as well.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Jones is a turnover machine who doesn't rebound well. According to cleaningtheglass.com, last year he got 12.1% of the available defensive rebounds when he was on the court which put him in the 13th percentile among bigs. His turnover rate in 18 games and 285 minutes with Utah was 26.4%, putting him in the worst 1% among bigs. You don't want him with the ball in his hands by any means.

His shooting was at two extremes; his usage rate was in the lowest 1% and his points per shot attempt was in the highest 1%. Not hard to figure that out - he almost never shot but when he did he made 71% of his 2-pointers. He was apparently under orders never to shoot unless he had an uncontested dunk.

The interesting thing about this guy is he made 9 of 11 attempts on 3-pointers. He hit 8 of 10 from the corners and his only non-corner attempt. On offense we should just park him in the corner and let Mitchell and Garland take it to the rim. If Jones' man sloughs off then kick it out for a corner 3.

 

[cavsfever]

As I pointed out on another thread he has shot 20-43 or 43% on three pointers over the last two years. So maybe there’s something there. But @Wham with the Right Hand post above explains a lot about why he didn’t get more opportunities despite apparently shooting well.

I’d also be worried about the rebounding. We really badly need to improve our rebounding — hopefully he won’t take us backwards

 

[Cavatt]

Lauri had been with only 2 teams (prior to the Jazz trade), had been a significant contributor on both Chicago and Cleveland, is STILL 2 years younger than Damian Jones , hadn’t suffered 2 torn pectoral muscles and accompanying surgeries and was deemed a significant trade chip which allowed us to obtain Donovan Mitchell. How is that a valid comparison?

Well, nobody wanted him and then he was the centerpiece of the Donovan after a single year on the cavs.

We have Sam Merrill because of I jury that kept him out all year.

We got Wade because he was injured during
the draft.

They tried Diakite briefly as a shooting big

Emoni came from the 2nd round where he was a distressed asset.

The other thing about Lauri is they went and got him immediately after drafting Mobley because they knew he needed space and they got a big that matched him offensively better than Allen.

Jones does not have Lauri's talent. He does commit too many turnovers. I think, like Georges they got him to pair with Mobley for space.

This is what we know.

They specifically traded for him and he cost them exception money. He wasn't a min free agent like Lopez

He has a relationship with Walton and they are trying to implement more of a motion offense to get into their sets faster.

JB actually praised Jones ability to pass from the elbow.

He and Darius have the same trainer. They were known to be working out together. Darius is very good at the lob and Jones can finish those. Darius has watched him shoot, so he knows what he can do there.

Cavs lost shooters and wanted to add them in the offseason. Every guy they added can shoot. They let guys shoot the ball if they are capable. Yikes we saw it with McGee and Drummond. Point is Cavs are ok with guys stretching themselves to shoot.

This may not work out. Jones might suck as bad as you think. He played well the past 2 years when he got time and despite being a career backup, his plus minus has been positive for years. His defense is good enough to keep him on the floor to see if he can fit offensively.

I'm not trying to say he is going to blow the doors off. His career high is 23 pts. I'm just saying that I think he is another reclamation project, which the cavs have done very well with. Finding guys who are undervalued, but can fit in and hopefully play better with this roster.

They are trying to get a stretch 5 on the cheap. Jones is the mystery of the offseason for me. Only playing the games will tell us if Koby got this one right.

From JB interviews, it sounds like he will start during preseason while Allen is out. Over TT, in preference to starting Mobley and subbing Dean or Niang in.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

Three of those teams featured Luke Walton on the staff. His rookie year, Walton was his bigman coach. With the Kings, Jones started 20 games for Walton. Now he's back with a coach who sees something. My guess is that Jones understands the type of motion offense Walton is adding as Bickerstaff's top assistant.

Definitely a glass half full kind of guy.

 

[zDawg45]

I agree with your premise that it will be useful to see what ”we have“ in Jones ; however, I can’t see how a guy who has been with 7 teams (Lakers twice ) in 8 years who has had zero value at any trade deadline (or at any season’s end, for that matter) is all of a sudden going to be of any significance at this year’s. The only player that he’s ever been traded for is Omari Spellman who is presently playing in the star laden Korean Basketball League. I hope I’m wrong but it seems like a bit optimistic that 6 other teams have all been wrong about him.

He post a good post and u have to come and dump on it?

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

As cavsfever pointed out, Jones was 20-for-46 on 3's the last two years (43.5%) after attempting just 14 in his first five years in the league. It looks like he's added a 3-point shot to his game the last two years but hasn't got the chance to use it much.

In that respect he reminds me of Channing Frye, who in his first four years took a total of 70 shots from deep in 94 games. But in his fifth season he shot 392 of them, hitting 44%, and the 3-pointer was a big part of his game the rest of his career. He finished his career hitting 38.8% of his 3's. It was a classic case of a big man realizing he needed to add something to his game if he wanted to extend his career and have a bigger role. It looks like Jones is following the same path.

Mobley is also working on his 3-pointer. There's a realization that you can't block a 7-footer shooting a 3, unlike a guy like Garland who needs a lot of space to get his shot off. With bigs either the shot does in or it doesn't. Guys like Durant and Markkanen who can hit 3's consistently are weapons, especially when you factor in that they bring the opposing big man out to the perimeter and open up the paint.

I'm not saying Jones will go on to hit 38% of his 3's the rest of his career, but it's possible he has a Channing Frye type of game, maybe as soon as this year. Frye had a 13-year career and scored nearly 8,000 points.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Brook Lopez is another example of a big man who developed a 3-point shot. In his first eight years as a pro Lopez took a total of 31 threes. In his 9th season he took 387. As of now his career 3-point percentage is 34.6.