The reason he opted out was he was making the vet minimum and wants a raise. So, forget signing him for the vet minimum to come back to Portland. At the every least, after playing in 81 games and shooting 0.429 from 3-point range, I expect Miami will again offer him at least the vet minimum, or maybe a little more.
He's a solid 3-point shooter, but his two best years have been in Portland when he had Zbo and a healthy Brandon Roy to feed off of and last season with LeBron, Wade and Bosh all drawing all the defensive attention. The fact is, he can't create his own shot. He's a stand still 3-point specialist who is only effective when opposing defenses leave him completely wide open to focus on other players. He's a good locker room guy, but other than 3-point shooting brings NOTHING else on the court (career PER = 11.4, career best PER = 13.6). He is a very limited player, but at least he knows his limitations and doesn't hurt his team trying to do things he can't.
So, it really comes down to these two issues. Will the Blazers have at least two players drawing double teams that will create wide open looks on the perimeter for players like Jones (or Babbitt or Dielbler)? I think the only way that happens is if Greg Oden is healthy, or Paul Allen funds the development of a time machine so we can have 2008-09 Brandon Roy back. Because right now, the only player on our roster deserving of a double team is LaMarcus Aldridge, and only if he is Beast Mode LaMarcus operating down in the low post. Do we have a spot on this roster, and in the rotation, for a 3-point specialist? Because that's what James Jones is. We've drafted two guys like that in the last two drafts. Did we waste those picks, or can Babbitt or Diebler fill that role. Although it's questionable if either of those two can create their own shot, hopefully if they are getting the same kind of wide open looks Jones would require, they'd be able to knock those shots down. If they can't hit a wide open 3, then why the fuck did we draft them?
BNM
