MIAMI - More than a month after the Heat's final game, forward James Jones remains uncertain about the approach he will take with the right wrist that kept him out for the first half of the season.

During the latter stages of the Heat's first-round playoff series against the Hawks, Jones said he planned to have another surgery on the wrist to regain 100 percent range of motion.

Jones, however, said Monday that such range of motion could trigger the same pain that led to last October's surgery for a ruptured tendon.

Instead, the 3-point specialist said he might play next season with the wrist at 80 percent.

"To get my range back," he said, "I would have to have the surgery. But regaining that type of range was the issue from the beginning, is what caused me to have the deteriorating tendon."

Jones said he was heartened by his shooting in the Heat's first-round playoff ouster, when he shot 53 percent from the field and 50 percent on 3-pointers.

"I think I proved that at the end of the season, even with 80 percent range of motion, with the repetition, the rhythm, that I was able to get my shot back," he said.

Although Jones started all seven playoff games at small forward, he only started once during the regular season.

Heat President Pat Riley declared the position open at the end of the season, with Dorell Wright and Yakhouba Diawara also under contract at the position, and 2008 first-round pick Michael Beasley a candidate to move there from power forward.

"It's one of those things where things change from day to day," Jones said.

"So if you set you sights on being a starter, someone else can come in right before the season and kind of throw you off mentally. I've always said just work as hard as I can, develop as much as I can, and then leave it to the coach."

James spoke at Miami Northwestern High, after presenting a $2,500 Heat scholarship in front of a senior assembly.

(sun-sentinel.com)

For as much concern as James Jones expressed during the playoffs that he would need a follow-up procedure to the surgery on his right wrist tendon that kept him out for the first half of the season, the team said there are no plans for additional surgery. Jones had said during the playoffs that the range of motion in the wrist had remained limited and thought it best could be remedied by another procedure.

(sun-sentinel.com)

What about small forward? How much longer does this scholarship last for Jamario Moon, a player whose Heat career could come to an end at the close of the playoffs?

Considering James Jones holds a long-term contract, and considering he has outplayed Moon in recent games, might these final few games of the regular season be the right time to test that possibility?

With Jones and Mario Chalmers, there would be shooting to space the floor for passes out of the post from Jermaine O'Neal or off penetration from Dwyane Wade.

Had Jones been healthy from the start of the season, his role certainly would have been expanded by this stage. Heck, an argument could be made that Yakhouba Diawara has outplayed Moon in recent games.

(sun-sentinel.com)

James Jones, who hit a late 3-pointer that gave the Heat its first lead since 4-3 and another one that put the Heat up four with 63 seconds to play, reached a season high in rebounds with 6. Jones scored 9 points in 36 minutes in the Heat's 93-87 loss to the Charlotte Hornets at the AAA.


(sun-sentinel.com)

For the umpteenth time, Heat forward James Jones' fortunes have changed with the flick of a wrist.
This time, that still uncomfortable shooting motion for Jones has resulted in the ball going into the basket, a steady role going into the playoffs and his once-fading confidence going through the roof.

It all has been a long time coming for Jones, who spent the first 70 games coping with aftereffects of preseason wrist surgery, dealing with the pressures of being the team's biggest free agent acquisition and adjusting to the personal demands that come with playing in the NBA for his hometown team.

If Jones has learned anything this season, it's the virtues of practicing patience and showing perseverance.

''I've come a long way,'' said Jones, a sixth-year swingman and former University of Miami standout in his first season with the Heat. ``No one expected me to be here. As a rookie, no one expected me to get drafted. So I've been fighting all of my life.''

But few battles, if any, have been like this for Jones. His body -- the wrist of his shooting hand, in particular -- has been his fiercest opponent.
The wrist failed him last summer, when he sustained ligament damage during a workout weeks after Miami gave him a five-year deal that guarantees $8.3 million the first two seasons.

Surgery followed in October, as did three months of alternating progress and setbacks until he fought his way into the rotation last month.
Pain has been replaced by relative prosperity.

Jones, a wiry 6-8 sharpshooter, is coming off one of his best games as a member of the Heat, with 11 points, three rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block in Saturday's win over the Bucks.

Still affected by discomfort in his wrist, Jones has tried to make up for errant shooting with defense and effort.

MORE MINUTES
But that shooting touch the Heat valued so much when he was signed is starting to come around now that he has ditched the brace that restricted his flexibility. Jones made a season-high three shots from three-point range Saturday.

Even before that modest breakthrough, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Jones justified a steady role with his performance in other areas.

''I think what everybody does is look at his three-point shooting -- and that's one of the things we brought him here for,'' Spoelstra said. ``But every time I watch the film, I see other things. It's all the things that don't show up in the box score. It's a deflection here, a block-out here, running the offense with energy, making the extra pass.''

Jones is averaging 3.4 points and 1.2 rebounds while shooting 35.4 percent from field and 29 percent from three-point range this season.
Those numbers are far from what the Heat expected from Jones, who was third in the league in three-point shooting (44.4 percent) last season with Portland.

But in 31 games, Jones has missed 44 of 62 shots from beyond the arc for Miami, which ranks 22nd among 30 teams in three-point shooting.

`BIGGER IMPACT'
Guard Dwyane Wade is confident Saturday's display signaled a strong finish for Jones that will continue Monday against Orlando.

''It's not easy for a guy like that to come in and be expected to make every shot he takes,'' Wade said. ``But as he gets more minutes and more comfortable, you'll see him make a bigger impact.''

A strong support system has made it easier for Jones to work through his injury and frustrations on the court. A Carol City native who now lives near Southwest Ranches, Jones said about 30 relatives and friends attend each home game.

''It's easier being home because I have people around me who understand me,'' he said. ``People encourage you.''

Heat forward Udonis Haslem, also a Miami native, said Jones has done a good job of handling the pressures of playing for his hometown team in a difficult season.

''It's definitely a double-edged sword,'' Haslem said. ``In the long run, you really find out who your real friends and family are.''

After coming off his best season last year and surviving the worst part of this season, Jones is finally finding middle ground down the stretch.

''The injury just humbled me and showed me how fast you can fall,'' Jones said. ``You get through it. You just have to get back up and go.''

(miamiherald.com)

Why has James Jones' accuracy declined to 26.4 percent on three-pointers and 34.5 overall? Jones -- third in the NBA in three-point shooting at 44.4 percent last season -- said his surgically repaired wrist ``is still weak and shaky . . . about 80 percent.



(miamiherald.com)

James Jones hit his first shot, a 3-pointer, which was a most encouraging development. It was only Jones' eighth 3-point conversion of the season. But that was the only shot Jones hit. He did not score again.



(sun-sentinel.com)

James Jones worked with a protective glove on his right hand. "He shot the lights out," coach Erik Spoelstra said.

Spoelstra said Jones was ready to return Tuesday night from his bruised right hand, but wasn't needed. He said the decision to hold out Jones against the Pistons was "a read as the game was going on."

(sun-sentinel.com)

Heat forward James Jones said this season continues to be a ``constant uphill battle.''

Jones missed Saturday's game against Philadelphia with a bruised right hand and is questionable for Sunday's game in Orlando. He said he cannot shoot, dribble or grip a basketball, and that he would need at least one practice before playing.

If Jones is unable to play Sunday, his status would be in doubt for Tuesday's game against Detroit, because Miami is expected to be off Monday after back-to-back games.

Jones' hand still is swollen but he said it has gone down significantly since he injured it in a collision with Mike Miller during the third quarter of Wednesday's 111-104 loss to Minnesota.

''That's the closest I've come to crying in a long time,'' Jones said.

The bigger issue is when Miami's biggest free agent acquisition of last offseason will return to form. He was sidelined for three months after surgery to repair a ruptured tendon in his right wrist and has struggled in 16 games. He is shooting 30.8 percent from the field and 21.9 percent from beyond the arc.

''The goal is to have me ready for the postseason and for me to be able to contribute in a major way as the season comes to a close,'' said Jones, who added that his wrist still is regaining flexibility and needs six months to be ``completely healed.''

''It's growing pains; it's conditioning my wrist to work again,'' Jones said. ``Today it feels good, and tomorrow it's sore.''

(miamiherald.com)

Forward James Jones missed practice Thursday and was having his surgically repaired right wrist examined by a doctor, the team said.

Jones and Jermaine O'Neal were both injured on the same play in the third quarter of Wednesday night's home loss to Minnesota. O'Neal took a charge from the Timberwolves' Mike Miller and missed about a quarter after sustaining a bloody nose. O'Neal also said after the game he experienced blurred vision immediately after the injury.

Jones aggravated a right wrist injury during the collision and did not return. The former University of Miami standout had missed three months after undergoing surgery for a ruptured tendon in the same wrist, sustained during the preseason.

''It's just swelling and more precautionary,'' Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said of Jones' visit to the doctor.

Asked whether Jones' injury is serious, Spoelstra said, ``I don't think so.''

A team doctor examined Jones after the game and said the wrist just appeared to be bruised. X-rays were negative.

(miamiherald.com)

PHILADELPHIA — Soon, school will be out for Heat forward James Jones.

"I'm expecting big things out of him in the second half of the season," forward Udonis Haslem said.

That means Jones, Miami's angular, 6-foot-8 sixth-year small forward, has to become proficient in the Heat's unusual system of defensive rotations. He also has to get comfortable offensively alongside ball-handling guards Dwyane Wade, Mario Chalmers and Chris Quinn. And Jones has to do it quickly.

For the past few weeks, Jones, who has played in 11 games for Miami, has been cramming. Pre-season wrist surgery put him way behind and he's been watching extra film and doing other homework to catch up.

But the Heat (26-22) needs him now, as in today's 7 p.m. game at Philadelphia (24-24). With guard Daequan Cook home nursing a bruised left thigh, the Heat has an opening for a long-range shooter. Jones, who tied for third in three-point percentage (.444) last season with Portland, was signed as a free agent for that purpose.

"I'm anxious to get involved and have a bigger role and do more," Jones said.

But first, there's the defense. Almost every first-year player struggles with it because of the Heat's system of rotating and helping.

"Because we force the ball baseline and not to the middle, a lot of times we' re not guarding our guys straight up," Jones said. "We're influencing them one way, so they have a slight half-step on you. That half-step means your defensive reaction time is sped up so much faster. It's unnatural, but you get used to it."

It helps that Jones, who seems to have moved past Yakhouba Diawara in the lineup, is a smart player.

"He's got a great understanding of the league tendencies and really pays attention to the game plan," coach Erik Spoelstra said.

Offensively, Wade is trying to fast-track Jones' learning.

"I want him to shoot it every time he touches it in practice just so he can get the feel of it," Wade said.

Wade has also told Jones he'll try to give him the same shots he gave Cook, who ranks sixth in three-pointers made at 105.

"Hopefully after the All-Star break he'll be where we need him," Wade said.

Once that happens, it's on, Haslem said.

"I even envision lineups where we can put him at the four (power forward) and maybe me at the five (center), or whatever the situation might be, and we can put an all-shooting lineup on the floor," Haslem said. "There are a lot of different things you can do with a guy like James."

(palmbeachpost.com)

Swingman James Jones' role is expected to increase while Cook is sidelined.

Spoelstra met with Jones on Monday and said he expects the sharpshooter to become more active.

''Just to clarify, just to make sure he knew his role with me and so that there wasn't any confusion, he's got the green light from three,'' Spoelstra said. ``I'm not really concerned that James is going to take a bad shot. If he errs on anything, he errs on moving the ball too much.''

(miamiherald.com)

Miami Heat Swingman James Jones played in his 300th career game on Monday night. Jones scored nine points in 24 minutes of action in the Heat's easy win over the LA Clippers. Congrats to James!

Forward James Jones (wrist) will travel with the team on its upcoming seven-game trip, and he is expected to practice or at least participate in contact drills and some five-on-five work.

''If you just came in and saw all of our noncontact drills you would think he is ready to go right now, which he is except the contact and the strength and the pulling and grabbing,'' Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Saturday. ``We're going to ease him into that as his wrist gets 100 percent healthy.''

(miamiherald.com)

Heat forward James Jones is shooting for a return in about four weeks from surgery on his right wrist after his cast was removed Tuesday.

''I'm taking a huge step,'' Jones said Wednesday.

Jones participated in noncontact drills Wednesday and said he should be back in eight weeks.

''I'm pain-free,'' Jones said. ``This is the first time I've been pain-free shooting in like three months. For me it's a weight off my shoulders.''

Jones said he is shooting mostly from midrange and is wearing tape and a brace on his wrist as he works his way back.

Was he hitting shots?

''Of course!'' he said. ``That's what I do.''

Jones underwent surgery Oct. 18 to repair a ruptured tendon. The same wrist was injured in late July during a pickup game.

(miamiherald.com)

MIAMI - Pop goes the season?

With two weeks to go before the season opener, that might be a stretch for the Miami Heat.

But when it comes to the team's 3-point shooting, it certainly left Erik Spoelstra's team with a sinking feeling.

The Heat announced today that 3-point specialist James Jones is expected to be sidelined for three months after rupturing a tendon in his right wrist, with surgery scheduled for Saturday.

"Just flexing my wrist, it popped," the team's prime offseason free-agent acquisition said of the moment Wednesday that will sideline him for the first half of the season.

Signed away from the Portland Trail Blazers in the offseason to help fill the 3-point shooting void the Heat has endured since the free-agent departures of Jason Kapono and James Posey in 2007, Jones had been out since the start of training camp with what was listed as a sprained right wrist.

The 6-foot-8 forward thought he had turned the corner with a recent return to practice.

Instead, Spoelstra said an examination showed the tendon was "shredded."

"We thought it was something that we could maintain during the season," the first-year coach said.

For Jones, it is a crushing blow to what was anticipated as a triumphant homecoming for the University of Miami graduate and Miami Lakes resident.

"Just imagine someone punching you in your stomach as hard as they can," he said.

To the Heat, it is just as staggering a moment. The Heat not only is shooting just 24.1 percent on 3-pointers amid its 0-3 preseason, but fallback option Daequan Cook is 2 of 14 from beyond the arc.

"Without James, we can get open jump shots from about 20 feet," said Spoelstra, with it unclear whether that would provide the needed spacing for Dwyane Wade to be able to attack the rim and Michael Beasley to utilize his post-up game.

Asked if the team would seek a replacement 3-point specialist, Spoelstra said, "I don't know. That's something we'll talk about the next few days."

Among outside options could be the low-cost likes of a Damon Jones, revisiting camp-cut Matt Walsh, or a bigger trade, having in the offseason investigated Ben Gordon when he was a free agent.

Beyond Cook, Spoelstra said he felt the team could get 3-point contributions from defensive specialist Yakhouba Diawara and point guard Chris Quinn,

But no one on the roster presents the 3-point pedigree of Jones, who finished third in the league last season at 44.4 percent, behind only Kapono and Steve Nash.

Cook, who is coming off offseason shoulder surgery, said he believes he can step up to the challenge.

"That's one of the reasons I'm on this team," he said.

Cook said his preseason 3-point percentage is deceiving because he opened camp wearing a protective pad on his left shoulder, which he since has discarded.

"It affected it a lot," the second-year guard said. "At one point and time I didn't have full motion."

For Jones, a debut with his hometown team will come later rather than sooner.

"I felt like I was turning the corner. It felt like I was in the homestretch and trying to get my feet underneath me, get my conditioning and my wind up," he said. "I felt like I finally started to see some daylight, and once again the clouds came and here I am."

The Heat is 0-3 this preseason with its next exhibition Saturday in Jacksonville against the Orlando Magic.

(sun-sentinel.com)

UNITED STATES-BASED sports and entertainment events producer Craig Skilling has not given up on his dream of hosting a largescale NBA-type event in Barbados.

And, in that vein, he has brought another NBA player to the island to ensure his dream becomes a reality.

In an effort to sell the idea of "the NBA in Barbados", Miami Heat forward James Jones has spent the last week in the country trying to formulate ties with corporate entities across the island.

Just last month, Skilling secured the services of starting Houston Rockets' point guard, Rafer Alston and Wali Jones, a scout with the Heat, to stage the Barbados Celebrity Basketball Charity Weekend.

But the weekend's activities were reduced to a mere coaching clinic – conducted by Wali Jones and Alston – for the island's top junior basketballers due to the lack of sponsorship.

However, Skilling, despite the initial discouraging responses, will continue to woo corporate Barbados with the help of James Jones before he returns to the island sometime next year to host another basketball-based event.

Only this time, with the help of Jones, Skilling expects to co-ordinate an event of a larger kind.

And so far, according to Jones, their efforts have been relatively successful, garnering the support of STARCOM NETWORK and the Barbados Olympic Association along with some approving nods from leading corporate entities.

Scholarship
Skilling's visit in July led to the recruitment of Combermere student Kregg Jones to an American team on the high-profiled Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) league. That then resulted in the 6-foot 6-inch Lumber Company Lakers forward/centre getting a scholarship offer from a United States-based prep school.

And Jones, who is married to Barbadian national Destiny Jones, sees further opportunities for more of Barbados' home grown talent. He believes the country has the infrastructure to develop into a regional scouting hub for overseas-based coaches and scouts in search of foreign players.

"The goal is to grow basketball here and expose the players," said the Heat sharp shooter, who had previous stints with the Indiana Pacers, Phoenix Suns and most recently the Portland Trailblazers.

"I came down last summer, played with some of the guys and was amazed by the talent . . . I mean guys 16, 17 (years old) giving me a run for my money."

(nationnews.com)

MIAMI (AP) - Throughout his NBA career, James Jones has always thought of the Miami Heat as his team.
And now, it finally is.

The South Florida native signed a five-year contract on Wednesday with the Heat, one that'll pay him $4 million next season and could be worth more than $23 million over the life of the deal. He had other offers, including one from the Detroit Pistons that tempted him, but ultimately Jones wanted to come home.

"For me, it's like coming full circle," Jones said. "I'm from the city. I spend all my time here and when the Heat hurt, even when I'm on another team, I still feel that pain. ... So for me, the interest from my hometown team superseded and outweighed all the other positives and pluses of the different cities, especially Detroit, that were looking for my services."

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel first reported terms of the agreement, including a clause that makes the final three years conditional - which ensures that Miami can still have maximum spending capability during the free agent summer of 2010, the year that Dwayne Wade can opt out of his Heat contract.

Jones, who played at the University of Miami and has been with Indiana, Phoenix and Portland in his NBA career, is a 3-point specialist, and that's an area where the Heat clearly need an upgrade.

Jones shot a career-best 44 percent from 3-point range last season. The Heat, as a team, shot 36 percent from beyond the arc a year ago.

"Everyone knows I can shoot," said Jones, who got his deal done on the first day of this year's free-agent signing period. "I love to shoot. That's what I do. I try not to step on any toes, not try to do too much, but just do what I do well, which is make shots."

It's unclear where exactly Jones will fit into the Heat rotation next season.

Miami drafted Michael Beasley, who'll likely play some minutes at both forward positions. The Heat have a contract offer pending with restricted free agent forward Dorell Wright, and still have small forward Shawn Marion and power forward Udonis Haslem - both of whom have been mentioned as possible trade candidates. Plus, the Heat will likely still seek some help at point guard (besides rookie Mario Chalmers) and center.

"We're trying to develop and build our bench," Heat president Pat Riley said earlier this week. "I think we have to build our depth right now, first. I think that's the first priority before you make a big move."

For his part, Jones doesn't care what role he plays, as long as he gets the chance to help the Heat erase the sting of last year's dreadful, injury-plagued 15-67 season.

"If that means coming off the bench, if that means starting, if that means taking 10 shots, if that means taking one shot, for me, it's about being efficient and winning games," Jones said. "Coming here, I don't have any expectations about what position or which role I'll play. All I'm looking for is the opportunity to compete." 

(kval.com)

Exploring possible alternatives to Ricky Davis, the Heat spoke with the agents of James Jones.

Undrafted former UM center Anthony King auditioned for the Heat the past few days.


(miamiherald.com)

AUBURN HILLS -- Nobody should be overwrought about not hearing the Pistons mentioned in connection with some of the top-tier free agents.

President Joe Dumars has made it clear the preferred tool for any roster changing this summer will be trades. To that end, he needs to keep his roster and payroll as flexible as possible.

Already, there are 10 players with guaranteed contracts for next season, plus second-round pick Walter Sharpe, restricted free agent Walter Herrmann and free agents Lindsey Hunter and Theo Ratliff, both of whom are expected to be re-signed.

As it stands, the Pistons could be some $10 million below the luxury tax threshold, giving them ample maneuverability. They are above the salary cap, so they can use their mid-level ($5.8 to $6 million) and veterans ($2 million) exceptions and sign Hunter and Ratliff and still bring in another free agent.

But Dumars has said he doesn't plan giving the full mid-level to one player. That would seem to rule out a player such as forward James Posey, whom the Pistons did have an interest in.

There are at least three wing scorers on the Pistons' free-agent shopping list:
• Mickael Pietrus, 26, who is entering his sixth season. He has started on and off for the Warriors.

• James Jones, 27, a 6-foot-8 perimeter scorer, who averaged eight points for the Trail Blazers last season. He is entering his sixth season but has 44 playoff games under his belt with the Pacers and Suns.

• C.J. Miles, 21, who has spent the last three years with the Jazz. He is a player Pistons coach Michael Curry became fond of during his days overseeing the Development League.

Of those three, Jones seems the most likely to be signed. Pietrus made nearly $4 million last year with the Warriors and will look for the full mid-level. The Jazz made a qualifying offer to Miles, giving them the right to match any offer.

Plus, Jones is a guy the Pistons have liked for a while.

He has tremendous range on the offensive end, plus he is a long-armed defender capable of defending the basket and clogging passing lanes.

But again, Dumars is looking for depth on the free-agent market, not a major impact player.

Free agents can begin signing July 9, but Dumars isn't on any rigid deadline.

The actual NBA trade deadline isn't until late February.

(detnews.com)

The Blazers may not re-sign free agent James Jones, because his agent is seeking a contract in the range of 5 years and $25 million.
The Blazers just locked up sharp-shooting guard Rudy Fernandez, so there isn't much incentive to invest $25 million in a role player with a sore left knee (Jones missed 34 games with the injury last season, but claims he is healthy now). Furthermore, GM Kevin Pritchard said he really likes the current roster, and any free agent would have to "knock [the Blazers] socks off" to get signed.

(rotoworld.com)

James Jones on Thursday said he has not ruled out the possibility of returning to the Trail Blazers next season, hours after he decided to become an unrestricted free agent by not exercising the player-in option in his contract with Portland.

Jones, who could have made $3.1 million this season, said he is anxious to test the free agent market and determine what his worth is around the league. In the course of that exploration, he said he will keep his door open to the Blazers.

"This was a tough decision,'' Jones said from Miami, where he had just landed after a vacation in the Bahamas. "But I'm definitely open to coming back to the Blazers, without a doubt. I would put it at 50-50; I would love to return there, but it would have to be under circumstances that are scripted perfectly. And that's left to be seen.''

Jones, who turns 28 in October, was hesitant to reveal what his perfectly scripted scenario would have to include. He said he wanted a "fair" contract, but added that he doesn't have a preconceived idea regarding a dollar amount or length of contract, and that he wanted to be on a team where he was "valued".

"I just want a fair deal,'' Jones said. "I won't throw anything out there because every organization's sentiment can differ. I want to be where I'm appreciated and valued.''

Jones said he felt he was valued by the Portland organization.

"There's no doubt about that, and that's why I have such an affinity for Portland,'' Jones said.

The crux of Jones' free agency lies in his desire to secure a long-term deal, or at least a deal longer than one season. If he is to land a long-term deal, he will almost certainly have to prove he has recovered from a sore left knee, which caused him to miss 24 games last season - a 12-game stint at the beginning of the season and a 12-game stint before the All-Star break.

"My knee feels great,'' Jones said. "I've had time to strengthen it, which was the biggest part of the ordeal last season. But for the past month I have been training, playing, riding my bike ... there is no pain.''

Jones said he hasn't identified any teams that he would like to play for next season.

"There is going to be a lot of activity in the draft, where established teams are looking to add, and young teams getting better ... I would like to sift through that and see what is best for me. But I feel I'm a good fit for any team that needs a shooter.''

Jones had the NBA's third best three-point percentage last season, making 44.4 percent while averaging 8.0 points. Perhaps more importantly, he became the sage of the team, often mentoring players like Martell Webster and Jarrett Jack, while also providing savvy and clutch plays on the court. When Jones played 24 or more minutes last season, the Blazers were 21-6.

With Jones becoming a free agent, the Blazers have 12 players, plus Rudy Fernandez, under contract. Where that number will stand after tonight's draft, and what the Blazers' roster looks like after tonight, will be under the watchful eye of Jones.

"I've always been a guy to take one step at a time,'' Jones said. "Right now, this is a decision I feel good with; it was a tough decision, but I feel good with it. Now, I will see what teams do in the draft, and then I will get a gauge for my value in free agency. Then we will go from there.

"Hopefully, I'll land back in the Black-and-Red. I felt like I was able to grow as a player in Portland. I really want to thank the Portland family - Nate, the players _ for allowing me to do that.''

(blog.oregonlive.com)

James Jones, the Trail Blazers sharp-shooter and locker room leader, did not exercise the player-in option in his contract and has become a free agent, the Blazers said Thursday morning.

Jones had until midnight this morning to decide whether to exercise the option, which would have kept him in a Blazers uniform for the 2008-2009 while paying him just more than $3.1 million.

Jones will now test the free agent market and can begin negotiating with other teams on July 1. He can still sign with the Blazers.

Jones, who turns 28 in October, played in 58 games last season and averaged 8.0 points and finished third in the NBA in three-point percentage (44.4). His 91 three-pointers were third highest on the Blazers (Webster 123, Blake 121).

But shooting was only part of the story with Jones. He was a strong presence in the locker room and displayed a veteran savvy on the court that often produced subtle, game-changing plays. The Blazers were 21-6 when he played more than 24 minutes in a game.

But therein lies the problem: Jones was healthy enough to play 24 or more minutes only 27 times. He battled a balky left knee from Day One in training camp. The knee problem - which was never pinpointed, and only described as a bone bruise - caused him to miss two stints: 12 games the first month of the season and 12 games leading up and just beyond the All-Star break.

The Blazers now have 12 players under contract, NOT counting Spaniard Rudy Fernandez, who is expected to be under contract shortly. The maximum is 15.

(blog.oregonlive.com)

The countdown is on for James Jones.

The Trail Blazers' small forward has until June 25, the day before the NBA draft, to decide whether or not to exercise a $3.2 million player option that would keep him in Portland for at least one more season. If he opts out, Jones would become a free agent.

Reached by phone Monday in Miami, Jones said was still weighing his options and did not plan on making a decision until the NBA Finals conclude and his deadline approaches.

"I was a finance major in college and in business you don't make decisions until you absolutely have to," Jones said. "I'll wait all the way up to the 25th to make a decision."

Jones said there are "many factors" involved in his decision, but he did not elaborate on what those factors were. It would seem that Jones is wrestling the prospect of landing a long-term deal against his strong desire to remain in Portland.

At the end of the Blazers' season, Jones said he loved playing in Portland, liked the direction the organization was headed and felt comfortable with his role on the team. On the court, Jones was among the NBA's three-point shooting percentage leaders for most of the season and drew regular praise from coach Nate McMillan because of the experience and "know-how" he brought to the game. Jones averaged 8.0 points and 2.8 rebounds and shot 44.4 percent from three-point range last season.

Off the court, Jones developed into an important leader in the locker room, offering a positive and calming presence on the league's youngest team.

However, he also played with a balky left knee throughout the season that limited him to 58 games. After taking an extended break this offseason, Jones said on Monday that he resumed physical and basketball activities (riding a bike, running, shooting and jumping) about three weeks ago and that his knee "felt good."

The Blazers traded for Jones on draft day last season and he said the team's promise and potential for success in the future make it an alluring team. He even mentioned that he would like to retire as a Blazer.

"It's about growth," Jones said. "The pieces are there for every player on the team to grow in some aspect of basketball. The mentality in this game, the goal, is to play a long time and be successful. And to do that you have to grow. Portland definitely provides a spot for extreme growth. We'll see. Hopefully, I can retire in the black and red."

But even if Jones exercises his player option that is not a guarantee. General Manager Kevin Pritchard would not comment on Jones' contract status or on the possibility of signing the 6-foot-8 forward to a multi-year deal. Those decisions, Pritchard said, would be addressed after Jones informs the team about his option.

Pritchard did, however, credit Jones' experience and leadership abilities.

"You always look at that," Pritchard said. "On the court, this is what he brought to the team. In life in general, you have to kind of have some life experiences. He's been around the league and he's been with some good teams. There's a lot of value in that.

If Jones opts out, he likely would do so to pursue a multi-year contract.

"I've been thinking about it and it's hard to say," Jones said. "Of course, I want the security of a long-term deal. But I've also experienced something in Portland that I haven't in other places. It's one of those things where I'd like to have long-term security but there are so many other factors involved and I can't say which one will tip my decision."

Jones has nine days remaining before he must decide his future with the Blazers and it appears he will use all nine days to make up his mind.

"I'll wait to the 11th hour; suspense will build," Jones said, laughing. "At the end of the day, I'm confident everything is going to work out.

(blog.oregonlive.com)

I caught up with James Jones today to see if he and his agent, Joel Bell, have had any preliminary talks about his player option situation, and found out that the situation is pretty much unchanged from the season's end.

Jones is relaxing with his family at his home in Miami and getting ready for a trip to Hawaii early next month. He said he probably will not discuss whether to activate the option on his contract until after the NBA Finals are completed next month because it is tough to get an accurate feel for the free agency market before that time. Jones has until late June to make his decision.

But Jones acknowledged that the potential playing-time crunch at small forward next season will factor in to the decision. He stressed that it will not be a make-or-break factor, but it will be a strong consideration. The situation boils down to this: A healthy Greg Oden and improving Channing Frye could push Travis Outlaw back to small forward next season, creating a bottleneck at that position. And if Rudy Fernandez chooses to join the Blazers, where he would likely be Brandon Roy's backup as a rookie, that bottleneck will grow even tighter. Should Jones activate his option (worth $3.2 million), he, Martell Webster and Outlaw would all be battling for playing time at the same spot, and the contract situations for each player could create an intensely competitive environment. Both Jones and Webster would be in the final years of their contracts and looking to improve their free-agency stock, while Outlaw will be playing to entice the Blazers to activate the team option on the third year of his contract (which appears almost certain at this point, but a rough year and a situation where any of those three could be pushed out of the regular rotation could change any certainties).

Jones is not concerned about the competition, though, having already carved out a solid career by being productive in limited amounts of time. He averaged a respectable 8.0 points and buried 91 3-pointers last season despite playing in only 58 games and averaging 22.0 minutes off the bench.

"I can be efficient in any amount of time that I'm given," Jones said. "I'm not worried about that."

The part that Jones will consider, though, is his free-agency stock. After battling knee trouble throughout last season and having his numbers plummet thanks to a horrid shooting slump late in the season, Jones' stock this summer may not be super-hot. But should Jones activate his option and return to the Blazers next year, he will be gambling that he will be able to raise his stock for the following summer in that highly competitive situation. Should Jones get pushed out of the regular rotation and wind up being the 11th or 12th man off the bench -- a realistic possibility considering how deep the Blazers appear to be next season -- his free-agency stock could take a hit next summer.

And that gives Jones something to consider over the next month: Should he test the market this summer while he's coming off a solid season? Or believe that he can continue to be effective next season and improve his standing on the market next summer?

"That will definitely be a part of my decision," Jones said. "It will be a factor, but not the factor."

(coumbian.com)

James Jones was brought over from Phoenix mostly as a three-point specialist, and proved to be a valuable asset by knocking down 1.6 three-pointers per game (at 44.4%). A near seven-percent rise in Jones' field goal percentage is the reason his '07-'08 season wasn't essentially a duplicate of his '06-'07 season.

(rototimes.com)

Instead of giving my opinion of players performances this season, I thought I'd ask the players themselves to assess particular areas of their game. Here is what James Jones had to say, along with some various pertinent quantifiables.

Defense: "Lacking. Not as good as I would like to and not as good as I’m capable of. That’s an area of improvement."

It's important to remember that James Jones battled nagging leg injuries all season. The negative effects of said injury probably hurt James most on the defensive end, but he still managed to get it done when he needed to. Timely blocks against the Bulls in double-overtime and on the road in Miami are evidence of that. What Jones lacked in explosiveness and lateral movement, he made up for (at least partially) with smarts.

Case in point: Jones has took 16 charges this season in 1276 minutes, putting him behind only Joel Przybilla (who does a helluva job drawing charges) in charges drawn per minute. Establishing position and sacrificing your body are things you can do on defense even when you're not 100 percent.

Three-point shooting: "Pretty good, except for the late-season collapse. Once again, it was pretty good, but not as well as I would like it to be and not as well as I think it should have."

A "pretty good" three-point shooting performance from Jones this season is better than anything we've seen in Portland since Steve Smith. Finishing with the third best three-point percentage in the NBA (44%), despite struggling at the end of the season, is something to be proud of.

Jones shot a ridiculous 55% from three during the month of December, contributing greatly to the 13-game winning streak. He cooled down a bit in January, though he still shot a respectable 44%.

Once again, injury was probably to blame for Jones' decrease in three-point shooting percentage. After sitting all of February, Jones' three-point percentages dipped to 37% in March followed by a 38% month in April.

"My body hasn’t been 100 percent all year and that’s not going to change," Jones said toward the end of the season, "especially going down the stretch. You compensate and you cope and at the end of the day, regardless of how you feel, you have to be able to make that shot. I just haven’t been doing that lately."

Rebounding: "Definitely need to improve on that and to me that ties into defense. Percentage wise, I kind of gauge rebounding on whether or not my guy gets the ball or if I get the ball. Rebounding for me might mean getting more rebounds because I’m putting a body on guys and just doing my part to make sure we’re securing rebounds. I could to a bit better in that, but I think every player could do better in that department."

He's right about that. The Blazers were 25th in rebounding this season. Greg Oden will help, but he's not going to solve the problem himself. Jones averaged 2.8 rebounds per game this season, which isn't exactly stellar, but it is statistically his second best rebounding season.

Worth noting that after a miss Jones' responsibility is to get down court to spot up for three, which partially explains his average rebounding numbers.

Ball handling/putting the ball on the floor: "I can do that stuff, but that’s not really something that I emphasize or work with because that’s not really my job here. If they open it up a little bit and tell me to handle the ball and be a little more aggressive, I can do that, but every team doesn’t need five ball handlers; they need guys who know their role and their position.

"For me, I can handle the ball and create off the dribble and do things like that, but if there’s a chance for me to get the ball back to Steve or back to Brandon, that’s their job so you give the ball and allow them to do their job. And hopefully they’ll respect your job, which is shooting, and they’ll find you and put you in a better situation to do what you do well."

James is right: Ball-handling isn't something Nate McMillan asks him to do. After rebounds, the Blazers get the ball to the point guard almost exclusively, regardless of situation. I have no idea whether that is by necessity or design.

Jones averages 0.6 assists per game, while also logging 0.5 turnovers per. Not great, but not horrible either.

Leadership: "It will definitely be different next year. I think I was o.k. this year, but being injured and not being in the midst of everything on a consistent basis, you give a lot of lip service. I’m not a big fan of lip service, so if I can’t get out there and physically lead these guys and prod and push these guys and carry them along, then I can’t really lead effectively or the way I want to.

"The challenge for me was to be able to have that on court time. I know I’ll be healthier next year. I mean, I’ll probably be in the best shape of my life because I felt like I was in really good shape this summer and I think that kind of carried me earlier in the season when I wasn’t practicing at all. So I’m going to get right and I think that will help everything in general."

Jones' calming presence on the court is undeniable. Rarely makes mistakes, never seems to get frustrated and is invaluable in helping other players understand the game when he's on or off the court. That's probable enough leadership for this team

(trailblazerscentercourt.blogspot.com)

I don't know if that many people realize it, but it's possible that James Jones has played his final game as a Trail Blazer. I don't think that's the case, but it's a possibility, and a very real one at that.

Jones has a player option for the 2008-2009 season, and as the name of the option would indicate, it's a decision that is exercised by the player. Here's how it works (to the best of my understanding): James has until July 1 to opt into his contract for next season. If he picks up the option, he plays for the Blazers next season at an already pre-determined salary, after which he becomes an unrestricted free agent. If he chooses not to pick up his option, he instantly becomes an unrestricted free agent, thus being free to play with whomever offers a contract in the 2008-2009 season. That team could very well be the Blazers, so even if Jones chooses not to exercise his player option, he could still end up playing for the Blazers next season, presumably with a new free agent contract. So James Jones has options, though he's not approaching the decision as though it's all on him. Jones told The Oregonian's Joe Freeman that:

"I'm a pretty simple and easy guy. It's not complicated. It's no mystery that I like it here. I just want to be somewhere where I can be effective. It's not my decision -- it's our decision. Me and (Pritchard). There are conversations to be had. Things change and visions change. You just like to know what the future holds for you and the team."

Jones, in my opinion, isn't a guy who is out to break the bank. He just wants to be a valued member of a team that's moving in the right direction.

It's impossible to tell at this point what offers might be extended from other teams. If a playoff team gets bounced in the first round thanks to a lack of long-range shooting and veteran composure, maybe they take a look at James Jones. But then again, maybe Jones isn't interested. To hear him talk after his exit interview, that might be the case.

"I was on the plane (after the final game against Phoenix) and reality set in that hey, technically there’s a decision to be made. And you don’t make these decisions very often in your career if you’re lucky. So it’s something I have to think about, but all I know is how I feel right now. I love the guys here, I love the team. It’s been a great experience and evidently nothing is set in stone. I just have to think about it a little bit more. They already know I’m definitely open to coming back (to Portland)."

You ask any player in the NBA about contract issues, and invariably, over and over again, the reply will boil down to the same phrase: "It's a business." And in that respect, James Jones is a business man, but business isn't all about dollars. It's hard to put a price on stability, comfort and a being valued by your employer. Some players probably don't care about those things; signing on with the highest bidder out-weighs everything else. But I'm happy to say that I know James Jones a little bit, and I'd all but guarantee that he's looking at the big picture. That bodes well for Blazer fans

(trailblazerscentercourt.blogspot.com)

(newser) – James Jones hit six 3-pointers and had 20 points to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to a 113-91 victory Tuesday over the Memphis Grizzlies and a shot at a winning record. Brandon Roy had 16 points and 11 assists for Portland (41-40), back over .500 with one game left this season, Wednesday night at Phoenix. The Blazers have not finished with a winning record since the 2002-03 season.

Something is wrong with James Jones.  He is in the middle of a terrible shooting slump and doesn’t show signs of coming out of it.  In the last two weeks, he’s gone 0-3, 1-3, 0-0, 3-9, 1-2, 0-6, 1-3, and 0-3 from downtown.  At one point last night after he clanged his third three attempt (he missed all three and didn’t score), Steve Blake looked to pass him the ball and Jones threw up his hands in protest as if to say, “Me?  No way!”  While we appreciate him not just shooting over and over every time he gets the ball, he has to be ready and willing to keep throwing them up there.  Given his normal easy stroke and great shot selection, you have to wonder if his knee is bothering him or if something else is going on.  We’re worried about the guy.  We need the Gunslinger back and draining those corner treys!

(blazersog.wordpress.com)

James Jones says it’s no done deal that he will opt out of his contract with the Portland Trail Blazers after this season. He has an opt-out for the 2008-09 season, when he is due $3.156 million.

"I’m not really sure," Jones says. "That’s a big decision. You’re talking about leaving money on the table. I was a finance major (at Miami). If I had a crystal ball, I could tell you. But so many things can happen, especially in the playoffs. You never know who shines in the playoffs."

But Jones, who ranks second in the NBA in 3-point percentage (.487) and has been a major force off Portland’s bench this season, surely would command more on the open market. Jason Kapono, the NBA 3-point accuracy leader, signed a four-year, $24-million contract with Toronto last summer.

(nbarumors.com)

James Jones - MVP.  The Suns were so desperate to get rid of James Jones' contract that they sold him to the Blazers along with Fernandez in what may turn out to be the worst trade in NBA history.  All Jones has done is make 49% of his threes this season.  He also appears to be incredibly important to the team's fortunes.  It was shortly after Jones returned from an early season injury that the Blazers won 13 straight.  It was after he got hurt again that they lost 9 of 11.  Portland is 8-16 without Jones this season - leaving them 27-17 with him.

(clipsnation.com)

Portland is 23-13 in games James Jones has played this season and 8-16 when he has been out with a knee problem.

But who has missed Jones more this season - Phoenix or Portland?

The Suns don't miss the prolonged slumps or offensive limitations off the dribble, but they do miss having an extra shooter off the bench - the sentiment that has led them to today's expected signing of Gordan Giricek. They miss having an active 6-foot-8 defender, a hole that is aggravated by the loss of top defenders Shawn Marion and Kurt Thomas from last year's team.

TUALATIN, Ore. — James Jones was surprisingly blunt with his confidence, stepping outside his normal soft-spoken manner to send a direct message.
Was it fair, he was asked, for people to believe that his return on Friday will change the Blazers’ sagging fortunes?
Jones did not hesitate.

“I hope people do have those expectations, and the players themselves, as well,” he said, “that once we get to full strength and healthy that things will change and we will be able to compete and win games like we know we should.”

James Jones returned to action on Friday after missing 12 games with a knee injury, and hit 3-of-4 shots and both of his 3-point attempts for eight points in a tough win over the Lakers.
Jones could emerge with a little fantasy value once he's fully healthy, but chances are he does more to hurt the values of Martell Webster and Jarrett Jack.

rotoworld.com

It may well be the dog days of summer in the NBA and a good time for a little rest and relaxation, but don’t tell that to Trail Blazers James Jones and Steve Blake. Both Jones and Blake are working out together this week at the Trail Blazers practice facility in Tualatin.

Trail Blazers assistant coach Monty Williams put Jones and Blake through a number of drills that were primarily focused on outside shooting and if Tuesday’s workout was any indication Portland’s perimeter game could see significant improvement this coming NBA season. Despite being the off-season, both players impressed and at one point during the morning workout Jones hit 16 three-pointers in a row, missed one, and then sank another five straight.

Jones, 26, is excited about his new opportunity here in Portland, and as you’ll learn in this podcast interview with TrailBlazers.com’s Jim Taylor, he’s putting in the extra time now in hopes of making it a smooth transition to Rip City.

(nba.com/blazers)

The Portland Trail Blazers kept the red carpet rolled out today as they introduced James Jones as the latest addition to a revamped Blazers roster.

Jones was acquired from Phoenix along with the draft rights to Rudy
Fernandez in exchange for cash considerations and the acquisition was finalized on July 11. The Jones-to-Portland rumor circulated back on draft night and become reality as Jones was introduced to the local media at the Rose Garden this morning.

Jones, 26, averaged 6.4 points and 2.3 rebounds with a .368 shooting percentage from beyond the arc in 2006-07, his second season with the Suns. He now becomes an elder statesman and a team full of young guns.

“I’m coming from a team where guys are 29, 30. And now I’m one of the older guys on the team," Jones said at today's press conference.

PORTLAND — The puzzle the Portland Trail Blazers have been putting together all summer is one step closer to completion.

The Blazers held a press conference Thursday morning at the Rose Garden to announce the signing of small forward James Jones.

Portland expects Jones — who was acquired along with the draft rights to Rudy Fernandez in a draft-day trade on July 11 with the Phoenix Suns — to immediately provide an outside shooting threat and playoff experience to a young, inexperienced team.

“(Jones) is off the charts in terms of what he brings to the court. He’s gonna compete for playing time,” said Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard. “We know who he is. He’s great. He’s coachable. He’s a guy who’s willing to play.”

PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Trail Blazers acquired guard/forward James Jones and the draft rights to guard Rudy Fernandez, whom Phoenix selected with the No. 24 pick, in exchange for cash considerations, it was announced Wednesday by Trail Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard.

Jones, 26, averaged 6.4 points and 2.3 rebounds with a .368 shooting percentage from beyond the arc in 2006-07, his second season with the Suns. Originally selected by the Pacers with the 49th overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, the fifth-year pro from the University of Miami (FL) has career numbers of 6.7 points, 2.6 rebounds and a .395 mark from 3-point range.

"We are thrilled to have a long-range shooter and a young man with very high character in James Jones," said Pritchard. "And Rudy Fernandez is a tremendous prospect who has excelled at the highest levels of international basketball."

Portland was able to acquire Jones with a trade exception gained in a June 28 trade with New York, which sent Zach Randolph, Freddy Jones and Dan Dickau to the Knicks in exchange for Steve Francis and Channing Frye.

(oregonian.com)

James Jones, who is headed to Portland once a Suns draft night trade is finalized, spoke about the deal for the first time Tuesday to KTAR-AM.

"The last two years have been the greatest years of my basketball career," he said, later adding, "The fans (in Phoenix) are phenomenal. They can't be replaced or they can't be compared with anyone in the country."

(azcentral.com)

The Suns agreed Thursday night to a trade that will send swingman James Jones to Portland as part of the deal that had the Trail Blazers buying Phoenix's 24th pick for $3 million.

Portland is allowed to take a player without returning one because they acquired a trade exception in the Zach Randolph deal with the New York Knicks.

The deal, confirmed by two league sources, may not become official until next week because of pending physicals.

The move is another one to help reduce the Suns' luxury tax next year. Jones was slated to make $2.9 million this season and $3.15 million in the final year of his contract in 2008-09.

Jones, 26, played the past two seasons for the Suns in the role of long-distance shooter and sound defender. He played 18.1 minutes per game last season and averaged 6.4 points on 36.8 percent field-goal shooting, including 37.8 percent on three-pointers.

(azcentral.com)

2006-07 performance: Jones got off to an awful shooting start until a return to the leather ball changed his stroke - or his mind-set. D'Antoni never wanted to get away from Jones' knowledge of the system, help defense and three-point shot (45.2 percent in 13 starts).

2007-08 outlook: Jones is an ideal role player at a $2.9 million salary for next season. A better ability to hit shots off the dribble or inside the arc would be a boost. He hit only 35.6 percent of his two-point shots this season.

(azcentral.com)

LOS ANGELES - Since forward James Jones entered the Suns' starting lineup eight games ago, he has scored in double digits in Phoenix's four 100-plus outings and single digits in the Suns' four sub-100 outings.

Jones called his Game 3 performance "horrible." The Lakers played tight defense against the Suns' three-point shooters, leaving Jones with no three-point tries for the first time in the past 10 games.

"If you're in the corner, they're paying close attention and not allowing you to get the ball and forcing our bigs - Amaré (Stoudemire), Shawn (Marion) and Boris (Diaw) - to make plays when they trap Steve (Nash)," Jones said. "Just try to make ourselves available and make it easier for Steve. Give him better angles and just get the ball quicker to the paint, because that's their soft spot right now.

James Jones relishes his spot among the Suns starting five. It's nice to get started early, he said.

Nice to be out there “with the superstars.”

“Not only do I get more looks out there with Steve (Nash), but I get to be more aggressive early,'' the forward said. “They're going to get me open shots and they're going to put me defensively on somebody I can bother and pester.”

The late-season twist of having James Jones start is working so far.

In the past three games as a starter, Jones has gone 5-for-11, 0-for-6 and 4-for-6 shooting. Though this doesn’t make for consistency, it adds up to 8.3 points on 39-percent shooting, plus 4.0 rebounds.

Most important, the Suns have won all three games.

“I love it,” Jones said of his latest role. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

“It gives me a chance to get going early, after warm-ups.”

Not only that, but, “I’m playing with the heavy hitters. It gives me a chance to play freely.”

Jones doesn’t demand the ball, so that may help the Suns’ much-discussed recent chemistry problems.

“I think that’s the best way to go,” D’Antoni said of Jones starting. “That’s our intent right now.”

(eastvalleytribune.com)

James Jones started over Boris Diaw in Wednesday's win over the Sonics and had 13 points and three 3-pointers on 5-of-11 shooting. Jones may start the rest of the way for the Suns, and the move appeared to help Shawn Marion, who had 24 points and 10 boards. Then again, it could have been shoddy Sonics' D that responsible for Marion's big night. Jones will have some value if he continues to start.

(rotoworld.com)

Suns swingman James Jones will start tonight's home game against Seattle in part to stir up the offense, but also because of Boris Diaw's recent struggles.

Shawn Marion moves to power forward, a spot in which he is more productive, and Jones has the chance to jump-start his offensive game.

Jones will take the spot Diaw has occupied most often beside the four set Suns starters - Steve Nash, Raja Bell, Marion and Amaré Stoudemire. In the season's 78th game, Phoenix, with 58 victories, will try a starting lineup not used this season as it tries to best utilize eight rotation players.

The Suns want consistency out of James Jones, and he is consistently missing.

The forward made three three-pointers in the second quarter March 14 vs. Dallas but has not made one since. It became a streak of 11 consecutive three-point misses Thursday for the player Phoenix desperately needs to connect when point guard Steve Nash is resting.

If Jones is not, Phoenix goes through dire offensive stretches without Nash, like when the Kings wiped out the Suns' first half-lead Thursday. Before the drought, Jones had a streak of 14 consecutive games with a three-pointer. He shot 40.7 percent (24 for 59) on threes during that stretch.

PHOENIX -- James Jones' place in the Phoenix Suns' rotation was on the ropes at the end of December.

Then he was saved by the ball.

The former Indiana Pacers guard is a niche player, his employment status relying almost exclusively on his jump shot. When he struggled to get comfortable with the synthetic ball the NBA introduced at the start of this season, he paid for it with playing time.

Jones, who started Friday's game against the Pacers at U.S. Airways Center in place of the injured Shawn Marion, scored in double figures just once in the team's 31 games.

The Suns will started James Jones -- or "Jhoops," his latest nickname -- last night at Seattle instead of Marcus Banks, who started Sunday's loss against Chicago. Jones' first start of the season was in the spot of Boris Diaw, who was not ready to play because of lower back spasms. Jones started 24 games in his first season with the Suns last year.

There are probably two reasons for the switch:
1) Seattle is a bigger team. If Banks was to start again at off-guard, Raja Bell would be at small forward trying to cover 6-foot-10 Rashard Lewis.

2) This won't be said but there has not been any fruits to come of Marcus Banks' playing time. Even when he appears to be doing better (20 points against Atlanta or seven assists against Chicago), his time is killing Phoenix. He has the worst plus-minus on the team, according to nba.com Lenovo stats. Phoenix was minus-44 with Banks on the floor for 54 minutes in the past two games.

Jones scored 8 points and had 3 rebounds in his first start of the season.

(azcentral.com)

After scoring 10 or more points just once in the first 31 games of the season, James Jones continued his resurgence with his third straight game in double figures, scoring eight of his 10 points in the first half to help keep the Suns within striking distance.

“James is giving us that little bit of extra,” D’Antoni said. “With the (bench) on the floor, we’re starting to increase leads and recover leads, which is huge for us.”

Jones hit four of five shots and is now 17-for-28 over the last four games after shooting under 30 percent all season. He also played nice defense on Allen during his 14 minutes.

“You play 82 games and there are going to be nights when the starters aren’t sharp,” Jones said. “We have to be there on those nights and I think myself, LB and Kurt gave that boost.”

When Barbosa (26 points) and James Jones (25 points) combined for 51 points off the bench in Sunday’s win over Golden State, it marked the first time in 13 years that two reserves from the same team scored at least 25 points in a regulation game. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Los Angeles Laker teammates Reggie Jordan (28) and James Worthy (26) were the last duo to turn the trick on Feb. 6, 1994 against Utah.

(eastvalleytribune.com)

PHOENIX (AP) - James Jones' shot returned with the leather ball, and that means yet another offensive threat for the Phoenix Suns.

Jones scored 25 points, two shy of his career high, and the Suns cruised to their sixth win in a row, 128-105 over the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night. Fellow reserve Leandro Barbosa scored 26 and Shawn Marion had 24 points and 17 rebounds in the Suns' 22nd victory in their last 24 games. Victoria's Steve Nash had 14 points and 10 assists, then didn't play in the fourth quarter.

"I really think this is the best team I've ever been on," Nash said. "We still have to prove that, but it could be."

It's not the easiest request for Suns reserve swingman James Jones.

Sit idly for long stretches. When put in the game, make an immediate impact that makes up for Shawn Marion, Raja Bell, Boris Diaw or Leandro Barbosa not being on the floor.

But if Jones is to be the one who will solidify an eight-man rotation, then he will have to be able to heat up his shot like a microwave and bring tenacity.

"We need something from him, and hopefully I continue with him," said Suns coach Mike D'Antoni, who gave Jones 17 minutes Tuesday for his longest work since the first of Phoenix's seven straight wins.

MESA, Ariz. - When it comes to both the Phoenix Suns' playing rotation and its ever expanding payroll, James Jones is the perfect definition of a "tweener."

At 6-foot-8 and 220 pounds, he has the length and shooting touch to be successful on the perimeter and the size and basketball IQ to be competitive along the baseline - where he spent all his time in high school and college.

Although he started 24 games last year, Jones is asked to provide depth, scoring, ball movement and, after proving he was capable during last year's playoff run, some rebounding, shot-blocking and defense. And as one of the few Phoenix players without either a huge contract or a minimum salary ($2.65 million), Jones can be viewed as both a bargain and a potential bargaining chip if the Suns feel the need to reallocate funds in the direction of the big guns.

When it comes to both the Phoenix Suns’ playing rotation and its ever expanding payroll, James Jones is the perfect definition of a “tweener.” At 6-foot-8 and 220 pounds, he has the length and shooting touch to be successful on the perimeter and the size and basketball IQ to be competitive along the baseline — where he spent all his time in high school and college.

Although he started 24 games last year, Jones is asked to provide depth, scoring, ball movement and, after proving he was capable during last year’s playoff run, some rebounding, shotblocking and defense.

COLOGNE, Germany - At age 25, when many NBA players are at the midpoint of their careers, Suns forward James Jones felt like a 25-year-old rookie last season.

He reached the NBA via the second round of the 2003 draft, essentially sat out the 2003-04 season and entered 2004-05 with a minimal role until some of his Indiana Pacers teammates were hit with suspensions and injuries.

Last season was not only Jones' first year with Phoenix but it was his first season with expectations.

Three professional basketball players will attend a youth program this week to talk about issues faced by young people, especially African-American boys.

Pastor Eric Jones of the Koinonia Worship Center & Village in Pembroke Park will kick off the youth program Tuesday. The session will feature Miami Heat star Udonis Haslem, James Jones of the Phoenix Suns, and Keyon Dooling of the Orlando Magic.

Children, teens and adults will be divided into age groups to discuss violence and other problems facing young people at the seminar entitled ``Raising Up Joshua.''

On Tuesday, participants in the seminar will discuss the pressures young people face daily, the Rev. Jones said. The seminar comes on the heels of a spate of teen killings in South Florida this year, including 11 in Broward County.

''As a church we do a lot of things, but we are not effectively touching what's going on in the world around us,'' Jones said.