Mavericks Make Surprise Roster Move

The Dallas Mavericks have officially waived guard Tyus Jones, a move that makes the 29-year-old veteran eligible for the playoff roster of any team that signs him. Jones was acquired by Dallas just before the trade deadline as part of a three-team deal. His tenure in Dallas was brief, appearing in just eight games with two starts. In that short span, he averaged 3.9 points and 3.8 assists in about 16.6 minutes per contest. The primary driver for waiving Jones is to create roster flexibility. The move opens a standard contract spot, which is widely expected to be used to convert rookie point guard Ryan Nembhard from a two-way deal. Nembhard, a rookie, is approaching the maximum number of NBA games he is permitted to play while on a two-way contract. His conversion to a standard contract would solidify his position on the team for the remainder of the season. Jones' 2025-26 season has been challenging; across 56 games with the Orlando Magic and Dallas, he has posted career-low averages in points (3.1) and assists (2.6) while shooting 34.9%. This is a notable drop from his 2023-24 season with Washington, where he averaged 12.0 points and 7.3 assists. Despite his recent struggles, Jones has a reputation as a reliable backup point guard and received votes for the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year award during his time with the Memphis Grizzlies from 2021-23. His availability is expected to draw interest from contender teams looking to add backcourt depth before the playoffs.