3 players Cavs could target in 2019 NBA Draft with their Rockets’ pick
By Corey Casey
Tre Jones, Point Guard-Duke
It’s easy to overlook Tre Jones as he’s easily overshadowed by Williamson, Barrett and Reddish, but he means so much to Duke. Jones has been solid for Duke, averaging 8.5 points per game as really the fourth option on 43.2 percent shooting (per Sports Reference), but what makes Jones so important is he’s the guy that facilitates for the Blue Devils.
It shows as he leads the team in assists with 5.4 per game.
Duke is also a great defensive team when dialed in, and Jones sets the tone on that end in particular. When you watch him, it’s clear he’s a good on-ball defender on the perimeter, but he’s also good off-ball, as he plays passing lanes well.
This season, he’s averaging 2.0 steals per game (again, per Sports Reference).
It’s also important to note when it comes to Jones’ value on the court and what happened when he missed time with injury this season. One of Duke’s two loses this season was against Syracuse. One of the reasons Duke lost that game was Jones only played in 6 minutes of the game, because of him reportedly separating an AC joint in his right shoulder.
When Tre Jones left the game, offensively Duke seemed out of rhythm and did not get good looks often with their best playmaker out.
The Cleveland Cavaliers really could use someone like Jones to run the offense and facilitate. The Cavs’ leading assist man this year among qualified players is Matthew Dellavedova at 4.1 assists per game (per NBA.com) and the second guy leading in assists is big man Larry Nance Jr. at 3.0 assists per game.
Collin Sexton will improve, but his game isn’t someone who is a true floor general. Sexton is a good scorer and I think will be a good defender on the perimeter some day, but he isn’t someone that will be a true point guard like Jones.