Former Spurs guard is candidate to be traded again after rough start in new home

The San Antonio Spurs sent Tre Jones to the Bulls in the De’Aaron Fox deal, and things have not gone to plan for the backup guard in Chicago. His counting stats look strong, but the on-off and plus-minus numbers tell a different story. The Bulls may look to send the 25-year-old guard elsewhere before the Feb. 5 trade deadline.

The Spurs have no regrets. Fox has looked like an All-Star, and San Antonio finally granted his wish to compete with the best team. They wanted to move on from Jones and would certainly have no room for him after drafting Dylan Harper to pair with Fox and Stephon Castle in the backcourt.

The Bulls are struggling to find their footing in the wide-open Eastern Conference, and trades could be on the way. Jones makes $8 million per year through 2028. He could be the perfect salary match in a deal, or the Bulls may just decide to move on completely.

Tre Jones is a candidate to be traded again after struggling with the Bulls

Jones played well enough to close last season to earn another contract with the Bulls. Josh Giddey is their point guard of the present and future, but the former Spur is a steady backup playing more than expected. He averaged 12.5 points, 4.9 assists, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.6 steals in 28.2 minutes per game through 19 contests. Jones is shooting over 50 percent from the field, but just 25.8 percent from 3-point range.

His lack of outside shooting is a problem, as the Bulls have been outscored by 51 points in his 506 minutes on the floor. They have a negative-4.2 net rating with Jones in the game and are 4-7 in the 11 contests where he has played more than 29 minutes.

Spurs fans know his limitations. The advanced metrics always look strong because Jones doesn’t turn the ball over or make foolish plays. The 6’1 guard struggles defensively and is a career 30.8 percent 3-point shooter. His inability to shoot forces his team to play him on the ball, and they must cover for him on the other end of the floor.

The Bulls want to be competitive. They are currently four games under .500 and clinging to the final Play-In Tournament spot in the Eastern Conference. Chicago is just 0.5 game ahead of Milwaukee, which has all the pressure in the world to win in hopes of keeping Giannis Antetokounmpo happy. They have also won just two of their last ten. The Bulls must be better, which will have them searching for upgrades before the trade deadline.

The San Antonio Spurs will not be surprised if the Bulls trade Tre Jones. They reached the exact same conclusion one year ago. His ability to prevent turnovers and run an offense is a plus, but the shooting and defense struggles are a problem for a franchise trying to contend. Do not be surprised to see Jones on the move again before Feb. 5. Such is life for an NBA role player.