The Charlotte Hornets are looking to grab some supporting characters this offseason to make a legitimate playoff run and Derrick Jones Jr. is on reportedly on the list.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Charlotte Hornets are looking to add dunk-champion Derrick Jones Jr. to the roster. The four year player started his career in Phoenix and has bounced around to a couple teams now.
Jones isn’t a great pickup for Charlotte and I don’t think he’ll add much to the roster. Jones is at best a below average scorer and has the length of a good late-game defender.
Jones is likely to leave the Miami Heat since he got so few minutes for the Eastern Conference champions Heat.
But why is Derrick Jones Jr. not a good look for the Charlotte Hornets?
The only reason I feel Jones is a bad pickup for the Hornets is due to the fact that Charlotte cannot waste a roster spot of someone who isn’t going to elevate the team.
Jones has never been a super talented as his highest career average was this last season where he averaged about eight points per games and a few rebounds. Jones has the build of a talented two-way wing but has never really progressed much skillswise.
Jones dunks may be great during All-Star weekend but ultimately the Hornets don’t need him. Quite honestly the Hornets have a very talented and young roster and adding Jones to the roster takes away a spot that could add a better player.
Jones played the most in his career with Miami and with a stat line of eight points, three boards, a steal, and an assist. These stats are decent and could do well coming off the bench for the Hornets but ultimately takes away an opportunity to add higher caliber players.
Serge Ibaka and DeMar DeRozan are a few names that have been bounced around within the organizations and both would add so much more to the Hornets roster.
I don’t think his addition would stunt the potential of the young talent on the roster but I believe there are definitely some better players the Hornets can grab this free agency.