The Miami Heat are working out free agent big man Kai Jones, NBA insider Chris Haynes first reported Monday.
Jones, 24, is one of the most athletic big men on the market. In 40 combined contests with the Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas Mavericks last season, he averaged 5.0 points and 3.1 rebounds in 11.7 minutes per game.
The Heat have one roster spot available and are nearly $2 million above the luxury tax.
On Sunday, Sportando’s Allesandro Maggi reported that Jones was “close” to signing with Virtus Bologna in Italy. Though Andrea Calzoni reported Monday that he has a “verbal” agreement to sign there.
However, Calzoni notes that Jones has a “deadline” to get a contract from an NBA roster.
The former No. 19 overall pick is entering his fourth NBA season. Should the Heat sign him to the veteran minimum, he would cost roughly $2.3 million on the team’s cap sheet.
He could also sign an Exhibit 10 with the hopes of fighting for a roster spot in training camp.
Jones has never played more than 46 games in a single season. In 107 career games — including six starts — he’s averaged 3.5 points and 2.4 rebounds. On a per-75 possession basis, he’s averaged 12.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.8 blocks.
Miami does not have any reliable backup big options outside of their two primary centers, Kel’el Ware and Bam Adebayo. It’s a big need — figuratively and literally.
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kai wants to play in nba has a workout with heat friday.flying in from bahamas his friend says he can jump thru the roof reminds him of derrrick jones jr.please sign him pat
He’s a fellow Bahamian, so I hope he gets a shot here! He’ll be close to home so maybe it can turn into a good situation for his career.
There must be a reason Mavs didn’t keep him and other teams didn’t sign him up before now. If he:s a head case Miami can do without him.
This is a low risk, not necessarily so high return, opportunity. Its not like he needs to be great either. I’d take better than Butler, with further potential upside, and be pleased.
You mean Bryant?
Yes.
no we need a player better than butler.team void a ss going no where
Isn’t this guy really dumb and kind of loco? I remember some off court baggage
I heard the same too. But I think he behaved well in Dallas, where he played last season.
now thats how i like my pfs to look.1st rnd pick to boot .tell shnozy stay in europe hed prob be first or second team all serb pro..vlad and kai as backups thats some serious big dudes who have some talent.
Big body…small brain?
24 years old? Very athletic? 6’11”? Former first round pick? Sounds like he could be a solid backup center or power forward. Having him and Vlad in reserve would definitely help. I hope they sign him. The Heat tend to get the best out of prospects and projects.
Definitely has size going for him.
power forwards should be powerful fits the bill.unfort dru not being on the team is a bummer.think dru is as good as dav.
Got any more of that stuff heat?
before dru got his second devastating injury for about 10 games he looked great small sample size but looked the part passed the all important hfl eye test 53 50 guy.we know he plays good duncan d,got a nice nba build.maybe cutting those curly qs helped him possibly jjj shorter hair will help him to.
Dru injury prone. Not reliable.
I think that he had problems with substances.
Thanks. I checked and it appears he did have several strange issues that could be substance related. Still, it’s a good idea to check him out on all levels. If he has gotten past that, might be worth a vet minimum or 2-way.
A backup big is not an extremely important position in the team, and if this is a gap year, I would prefer to give a chance a possible long time solution at this position, for example Vlad, even at the cost of worse team results.
I don’t know how you could say that a backup big is not an important position. The goal this season should be to keep Ware and Bam on the floor together as much as possible. The play one while the other sits was, to me, not ideal. That combo had a great rating in their time together. Whether it’s Vlad or another big, a backup center is important.
Other positions are more important. Its not like a 6 or 7 th man in the rotation, which should be guards or forwards.
The best I could find at that position, are Adams, Valaincunas and Gafford. All solid player, but those are players for 10-20 minutes a game, contributing 5-10 points, collecting 5-10 rebounds.
Bam will play 35 minutes, and Ware 30, They will play at least 20 minutes, if not 25 minutes together. I believe thats enough.
From the remaining 30 minutes form three man rotation, a backup center can have 15 minutes. I believe Vlad can play that. For the rest others can be used.
But in case of injury, we are doomed. Thats why another center could be handy.
What others? Jovic and Fontecchio are too soft to play PF or C in the NBA. Vlad needs “a little seasoning in G League” before he’ll be ready. If Heat could get Horford for cheap, that would be great.
I agree and continue to feel a backup center is needed. We have 6 guards on the team and 1 true center. And there is no way that our starting bigs should only play half of the game, or less, on the court together.
Very logical. What are you Vulcan?
Well, admittedly, I have lived long and prospered, well at least enough to have a little condo and drive a hybrid Camry. 😆
I just looked at that (waiting for approval) YouTube short. Excellent take! If the Heat find him mentally and physically sound, taking a flyer on him wouldn’t be a bad idea. As 30 pointed out, it would be (very) low risk and who knows what reward?
10 day contract? That way he can compete for back-up PF/C. He’s not eligible for two-way.
This system is strange. I saw your post with the Jones commentary, saw that it said “waiting for approval “, was unable to reply to it, but was able to click on the link, and now, for the moment, it has disappeared. 🤪
Maybe it’s AI playing God?
The line up with Bam at C and Niko at PF was often used in past. I dont know numbers, but I think it wasn’t bad.
We have Ware at center now and Bam at power forward. Niko is better back-up SF rather than PF or C. If he suddenly becomes more physically aggressive, then that would change things. He has the size, what he has lacked has been the hunger/determination.
shnoz is a sf (soft forward) thats ok but right now not good enough.hes not going to change that style thats his game.thats what got him to the nba.he will never be more than a role player.if we get 10pts 4 rebounds 2 assists im down with that(30 expression btw)
they might be soft but if your good that covers upfor softness.one of the best pfs of all time was bosh kg mchale were not overly physical pfs,abiity trumps softness jovic so far has not been good enough .simone i remember from det a 3pt specialist with a nice nba body.to early to evaluate his soft game
So now you’re saying skills and BBIQ Trump athleticism? Welcome to the club. Let me know when Jovic reaches level of Bosh, KG and McHale and we can talk.
jovic is neither of the 3 .gd given ability # 1.bbiq 2 athleticism 3.hes better off staying in europe
This started out as a gap year but is quickly turning into a season of opportunities. I found this on Google & YouTube regarding why Dallas chose not to keep Kai Jones.
The Dallas Mavericks didn’t keep Kai Jones primarily because they lacked available roster spots to offer him a standard contract, and they also needed to re-sign Dante Exum.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3Ag9A0XBPTA
It’s baaack! 😀
dallas mavs cut kai causes hes not that good in their eyes.