Perry Jones to the Celtics

[RedSox040713]

https://twitter.com/stevebhoop/status/621022796743716864

 

[nattysez]

He's 23, 6'11, and seems like he has a lot of tools.  No idea to what extent this writer knows what he's talking about, but:  
 

When you add up all of Jones' physical gifts, you get a big man who can dribble like a guard and shoot like a small forward. That kind of unique skill set needs to be unleashed on the NBA. His game doesn't have any glaring holes that can't be fixed by the new coaching staff showing a greater commitment to his personal growth.

 
Perry Jones III has all of the physical attributes to be a quality role player and spare the Oklahoma City Thunder from having to use other resources to improve the small forward position. Jones' failures in the past stem from a combination of inconsistency, injuries, lack of confidence and the absence of a concrete role. 
At one point in his college career, Jones was considered to be a possible top-five draft prospect. The skills are still there, and with a greater opportunity to showcase his talents, Jones could be an intriguing piece to the Thunder puzzle. 
 

 

[AMS25]

As a Thunder fan who's watched him in the pros, PJIII had a few good games but mostly didn't get much playing time. When he was on the floor, he was often invisible a la Jeff Green.

 

[bowiac]

Generic posting of RPM stats:
 

 

[RedSox040713]

https://twitter.com/adamhimmelsbach/status/621029386200838144

 

[jscola85]

Celtics basically used cap space to buy a 2nd rounder here.  Nice little move but wouldn't expect to see PJ3 in green for long.

 

[nighthob]

They didn't even buy it, the Thunder included the money to release PJ3, essentially they collected a second round pick for keeping the cost of the release off the Thunder luxury tax calculations.

 

[Sam Ray Not]

Any chance this is a moving piece in the Wallace-for-Lee deal?
 
Warriors GM Bob Myers was interviewed during a Summer League game a couple of days ago, and he still refers to the Lee-for-Wallace deal as "a deal I'm not at liberty to discuss."
 
The signing moratorium is over ... what do you think they're waiting for?

 

[Jeff Van GULLY]

Any chance this is a moving piece in the Wallace-for-Lee deal?
 
Warriors GM Bob Myers was interviewed during a Summer League game a couple of days ago, and he still refers to the Lee-for-Wallace deal as "a deal I'm not at liberty to discuss."
 
The signing moratorium is over ... what do you think they're waiting for?

 
 
They haven't consummated the deal because if they did, the Celtics lose their currently available cap room, much the same reason they haven't officially signed Crowder yet.  By not trading for Lee (or signing Crowder) they were able to do this deal for Jones.  Danny will continue to hold off on the Lee deal until he is sure he can't improve the team further with the available cap room.  It's not official so the Warriors won't comment.

 

[wade boggs chicken dinner]

Perry Jones had a couple of good games in November last year - see http://sonsofsamhorn.net/topic/86361-nba-2014-2015-game-thread/page-2?hl=%2Bperry+%2Bjones#entry5716160 - but he then badly bruised his knee and sort of disappeared afterwards. 
 
Jordan Mickey is now the second most athletic player on the Cs.
 
Nice retrospective of PJ3's career is here:  http://www.welcometoloudcity.com/2015/5/15/8558017/2014-15-thunder-player-grades-perry-jones-iii-rides-a-rollercoaster

 

[PedroKsBambino]

Odds are this is just picking up a free pick and a young, live body for the trade exception.   However, is there any reason to believe Celts might have a theory on a role for PJIII that would be a better fit?  Has flashed 3 pt range, has the athleticism, has never really shown ability to block shots in spite of the athleticism...

 

[zenter]

Ainge finally corrects the Fab Melo mistake!

 
Exactly the first thought I had.
 

Odds are this is just picking up a free pick and a young, live body for the trade exception.   However, is there any reason to believe Celts might have a theory on a role for PJIII that would be a better fit?  Has flashed 3 pt range, has the athleticism, has never really shown ability to block shots in spite of the athleticism...

 
Trade exception? Those were all renounced on July 9th. Cs in unfamiliar cap territory for the first time since (basically) Paul Pierce's rookie season. Or did you mean something else?

 

[jp9183]

It's a misunderstanding the thunder get a trade exception because we are under the cap and can take the contract

 

[TheJodyReedExperience]

 
Exactly the first thought I had.
 
 
Trade exception? Those were all renounced on July 9th. Cs in unfamiliar cap territory for the first time since (basically) Paul Pierce's rookie season. Or did you mean something else?

 
OKC gets the exception, Celts get the pick and Jones.

 

[PedroKsBambino]

Right, from Celts perspective it is the cap space, from OKC's it is the exception.  The value the Celts are giving up is that space (and the out-of-pocket money, I suppose)

 

[zenter]

Ah, gotcha. I interpreted that as solely from the C's perspective.

 

[ifmanis5]

Ainge finally corrects the Fab Melo mistake!

PJ3 2.0!!!

 

[fairlee76]

PJ3 2.0!!!

Yep.  This dude's backstory makes him incredibly easy to root for.

 

[Sam Ray Not]

They haven't consummated the deal because if they did, the Celtics lose their currently available cap room, much the same reason they haven't officially signed Crowder yet.  By not trading for Lee (or signing Crowder) they were able to do this deal for Jones.  Danny will continue to hold off on the Lee deal until he is sure he can't improve the team further with the available cap room.  It's not official so the Warriors won't comment.

Good info, thanks. At the time of the trade, there was talk of a second moving piece (Babb or Pressey, IIRC). Has that been determined?

 

[mcpickl]

Good info, thanks. At the time of the trade, there was talk of a second moving piece (Babb or Pressey, IIRC). Has that been determined?

Which guy it is hasn't been determined, but one other piece has to go to make the trade work under the salary cap.
 
Unless they announce the deal tonight, it'll be Babb since Presseys contract becomes guaranteed tomorrow.
 
He'll surely be waived if he's not dealt before then.

 

[Eddie Jurak]

Odds are this is just picking up a free pick and a young, live body for the trade exception.   However, is there any reason to believe Celts might have a theory on a role for PJIII that would be a better fit?  Has flashed 3 pt range, has the athleticism, has never really shown ability to block shots in spite of the athleticism...

The reason is Brad Stevens.  He seems to have a talent for putting guys into position to have success.  For a guy who has only been coaching for 2 years there is a pretty long list of guys who have played their best basketball for him... Jordan Crawford, Evan Turner, Tyler Zeller, Brandon Bass, Jerebko.  Of course those are all pretty limited players and Jones may be as well.  

 

[kajana141]

Simmons came up on a recent Adam Corolla podcast. They were at a dinner with about 5 people and Simmons told Corolla that once his contract is up in September, he would come on the podcast and talk shit about ESPN. This was quickly changed on the next podcast where Corolla had to clarify that Simmons meant he would come on the podcast, no mention of ESPN. I'm guessing he has a non-disclosure and someone at ESPN got wind of Corolla's statement.

 

[Devizier]

This is the scrub that many of us wanted when Danny drafted Fab Melo.

 

[Erik Hanson's Hook]

The reason is Brad Stevens.  

 

[jscola85]

The reason is Brad Stevens.  He seems to have a talent for putting guys into position to have success.  For a guy who has only been coaching for 2 years there is a pretty long list of guys who have played their best basketball for him... Jordan Crawford, Evan Turner, Tyler Zeller, Brandon Bass, Jerebko.  Of course those are all pretty limited players and Jones may be as well.  

 
Zeller and Jerebko had already shown they were productive players on a per-minute basis, they just got an opportunity here more than anything.  Turner and Crawford were definitely guys who Stevens has helped maximize talent with though.  Jones has some skills but I wouldn't hold my breath on him producing.  That said, the team has 15 roster spots and if Jones winds up with one of them, you can do a lot worse than him for the last guy on the bench in terms of actual production plus upside.