http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/basketball/nba/06/26/jones.blazers.ap/index.html?eref=sircrc James Jones becomes free agent PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Three-point specialist James Jones became a free agent Thursday after deciding not to exercise his contract option with the Portland Trail Blazers. The option would have made Jones a Trail Blazer through the upcoming season and paid him about $3.1 million. Jones averaged eight points in 58 games last season. He had 91 3-pointers. Portland acquired the five-year veteran forward last year on draft day. He can begin negotiating with other teams on Tuesday. --------------- was tempted to put this in the GARM, but decided not to. if we could get Landry & James Jones both using the MLE (on account of both of their injuries last season), i think that'd be the best case scenario.
He opted out of 3.1 mil. That's already more than we could probably offer with Landry's situation. Looks like he wants to get paid, probably with full MLE money.
He's James Posey with much weaker D. Can hit big shots. I'd take him, but not for the MLE. $3.1 mil actually sounds reasonable for a quality bench player.
I'm a bit surprised he opted out. I don't think that he can get more than 3m next year. However, when you consider the depth of the Blazers 2/3 rotation -- Roy, Fernandez, Outlaw, and Webster -- before a draft with 2 first round picks, he may be thinking he can parlay a longer term deal now, rather than risk a bad season or limited playing time in a contract year. Probably a pretty good idea. Less money in 08-09, more money overall.
