Dallas Mavericks veteran guard/forward Eddie Jones exercised his player option Tuesday morning and will return for a 15th NBA season and second with the Mavericks, a team official confirmed.
Jones, 36, is due $2 million next season. Signed last season as a free agent to bolster the team's 3-point shooting and defense at the shooting-guard spot, Jones struggled through injuries, most notably a bad knee and ankle. He played in just 47 games and averaged 3.7 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists.
He struggled with his 3-point shot, making just 29.3 percent. He's a career 37.3-percent shooter from behind the arc. Near the end of last season, Jones moved into fifth place on the league's all-time 3-point field goals list. He has 1,546, just 13 shy of tying Glen Rice in fourth place.
Jones' return leaves the Mavs with eight players on the 15-man roster. The free agency period opened today with teams allowed to negotiate with players and agents. The earliest a player can sign is July 9.
The roster as it stands now: G Jason Kidd, G Jerry Stackhouse, G Jason Terry, G/F Eddie Jones, F Josh Howard, F Dirk Nowitzki, F Brandon Bass, C Erick Dampier.
The Mavs could soon add some more familiar faces. Devean George is interested in returning to the Mavs and the club has interest in bringing him back. George has spent time this offseason working out with new coach Rick Carlisle.
"Rick was a great hire," George's agent, Mark Bartelstein said on Monday. "Devean would thrive in his system."
The agent for Antoine Wright said Monday that the fourth-year, 6-foot-7 shooting guard also could remain with the Mavs.
"I do think there is interest from Dallas' side," agent Andy Miller said. "We [Miller and Wright] have been deliberating this for the last couple of weeks. We do think Dallas is a good situation."
-- Jeff Caplan
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