The Denver Nuggets are rumored to be interested in acquiring Perry Jones III. Aside from the Nuggets, other NBA teams are said to be contacting Jones' agent in the hopes of signing the 6-foot-11 forward.
Jones is now back to North America after a short time playing for the Russian team BC Khimki. Claims about the Nuggets' interest in Jones originated from Sam Amico of Amico Hoops, who tweeted that the Nuggets along with several other NBA teams have reached out to Jones' agent.
The Oklahoma City Thunder picked Jones by 28th overall in the 2013 draft, according to ESPN. The 25-year-old only averaged 3.4 points and 1.8 rebounds in 143 games in three seasons.
During the 2015-16 season, Jones was with the NBA D-League playing for the Iowa Energy. In that time, he averaged 13.2 points and 7.4 rebounds in five games.
Zach Mikash of Denver Stiffs wrote that "Jones could potentially fill a hole on the Nuggets roster, though it would not necessarily be a great fit." He's more effective as a wing thanks to his great athleticism and a promising outside shot.
The Nuggets' small forward position is filled at the moment and Jones 6'11" height could make him as the team's emergency center. However, Jones doesn't possess "the bulk or low post ability on either end of the court to play center, but his height alone qualifies him for the just-in-case spot," Mikash continued.
Jones was part of the Boston Celtics roster for training camp last year but was waived due to two reasons. He sustained knee injuries that put a damper on his progress and made teams anxious about his long-term career in the NBA. Another reason was the death of Jones' cousin and best friend. He admitted that the family death made a huge impact on his mental health.
As for why his involvement with the Russian team was cut short, perhaps the rumor is true and it pushed him to explore his options in several NBA teams instead. On the other hand, it's also possible that Jones still wants to spend time with this family after the tragedy, or maybe the Khimki Moscow believes that he's still incapable of playing well.
The Nuggets is currently tapping on the potentials of its young stars including Nikola Jokic, Emmanuel Mudiay, Gary Harris, and Jamal Murray, Bleacher Report listed. The team is building up both Jokic and Mudiay in leadership roles.
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