5 point guards the Cavs could sign to back up Darius Garland

5 point guards the Cavs could sign: Tyus Jones

Tyus Jones has been connected to the Cavs frequently during the lead-up to free agency, just like he has likely been connected to every team that needs a point guard. He is the perfect kind of player to target in free agency, someone clearly better than his role and young enough that his new team will be securing him throughout his prime.

Jones has been backing up Ja Morant for the past few seasons, but his ability to defend with tenacity and shoot from outside has allowed him to play a substantial amount of minutes with Morant in dangerous two-point-guard lineups. Last season lineups with both on the court were a staggering +14.9 points per 100 possession (per Cleaning the Glass).

That’s exactly what the Cavs want. Ideally, they would replicate the chemistry they had last season with Ricky Rubio and find another point guard who can back up Darius Garland while also logging minutes on the court with him. Jones would do exactly that, and their combined shooting and ball-handling ability would stretch defenses on the perimeter that are also trying to contain bigs inside.

Jones may be looking for a starting job somewhere, but there are very few of those available and none of those teams are likely able to offer more than the mid-level exception, if that. In the event that Jones wants a high-minute backup role and is comfortable with a long-term offer starting at the midlevel, the Cavs should be fighting to get to the front of that line.