Memphis found the magic number: One not too high to blow its budget, but one not so low that Minnesota would match.
The Timberwolves will not match the qualifying offer tendered point guard Tyus Jones by the Grizzlies, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are declining to match the Memphis Grizzlies’ three-year, $28M offer sheet for restricted free agent guard Tyus Jones, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 10, 2019
Among reasons for not matching on Jones: Minnesota is pursuing max cap space in 2020 free agency. Without space this summer, Wolves were a finalist for D’Angelo Russell. They’ll work to get back into market with real flexibility next year. https://t.co/5bh2fSn5Sz
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 10, 2019
The offer sheet is for $24 million but could get to $28 million with incentives.
Ja Morant will be the point guard of the future in Memphis, but behind him is was only De’Anthony Melton. Now the Grizzlies add a young player who has shown promise and averaged 6.9 points and 4.8 assists per game last season in nearly 23 minutes a night for the Timberwolves. Jones is not a great shooter (31.7 percent shooting from three last season, and a well below average 49.1 true shooting percentage) but he can run a team and will fit nicely in Memphis.
