Derrick Jones

After spending two and half seasons with the Heat, Jones signed a two-year, $19 million deal with the Trail Blazers last offseason. For the first time in his career, the gravity-defying wing began the season in the starting rotation. Jones started in his first 41 appearances with his new team and averaged 7.9 points and 4.3 rebounds in 26.3 minutes per game during that span. However, the 6-foot-5 forward's season completely changed when Portland traded for Norman Powell on the trade deadline. Jones went back to a reserve role and ended up nearly falling out of the rotation, averaging just 13.2 minutes per game post trade deadline. This season, the UNLV product finds himself on a new team once again. Jones was a part of a three-team trade that ended up with him landing in Chicago. DeMar DeRozan and Patrick Williams look to be locked in at the starting forward spots for the Bulls, but the team's lack of depth at the position should lead to Jones having a solid role as a reserve. While the 2020 Dunk Contest champion has never been a great fantasy option due to his lack of playmaking and shooting ability, Jones should still be seeing around 20 minutes per game off the bench this season. While Zach LaVine and Jones will certainly be an aerial sight to see, it is hard to imagine Jones improving tremendously to where he is a viable fantasy option in the 2021-22 season.

Jones saw the biggest role of his career last season with the Heat, averaging 8.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.0 steals in 23.3 minutes. The primary driving forces of his fantasy value were his steals, field-goal percentage (52.7) and free-throw percentage (77.2). Heading into 2020-21, Jones will suit up for a new team, as he signed a two-year, $19 million contract with the Trail Blazers. In Portland, he'll be fighting for reserve wing minutes with the likes of Rodney Hood, Gary Trent and Carmelo Anthony (or Zach Collins, if Anthony starts). We shouldn't expect Jones to take a significant leap forward, though he makes for a fine late-round option in deep formats.

Jones managed career-high averages in points (7.0), boards (4.0), steals (0.8), dimes (0.6), treys (0.5) and minutes (19.2) while matching his best contribution in blocks (0.7) through 60 contests in 2018-19. He's still a work in progress from beyond the arc, but he shot a career-best 30.8 percent from deep this past season. Miami has a deep roster, and Jones is fairly likely to continue coming off the pine. With that being said, the Heat have a good track record of developing talent, and Jones is an exceptional athlete who has made steady strides on both ends of the court. In the event that Jones takes his perimeter shooting to another level, he could be an intriguing statistical contributor thanks to his high motor and defensive versatility. If that doesn't happen, Jones is most likely to remain in a reserve role, slotting in behind Jimmy Butler, Justise Winslow, and perhaps even James Johnson.

Jones was a member of the Suns until being waived in early December. The Heat seized the opportunity, signing the UNLV product to a two-way deal later than month. He only appeared in 14 games (eight starts) with the parent club, averaging 3.7 points and 2.4 rebounds in 15.2 minutes. His upside shined through more in the G-League. Between both organizations’ respective G-League affiliates, Jones averaged 17.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and a combined 3.0 blocks/steals. Notably, he flashed an improved three-point jumper, hitting 1.6 threes per tilt at 33.8 percent after shooting 25.5 percent during his rookie year. Still, despite tangible improvements, it will be a challenge for the top-flight athlete to garner a significant role at the NBA level considering the Heat’s logjam on the wing.