A part of the Mavericks’ arsenal that has been missing for weeks might be ready to make a comeback.
They signed center Kai Jones to a two-way contract on Monday and the athletic 6-11 center has a knack for catching and finishing lob-dunks, which once upon a time was a staple of the Mavericks’ offense with Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford.
Kyrie Irving may have to dust off that weapon.
Asked what he thought the odds were that we’d see a Kai-to-Kai lob combo, Jones said: “High, yeah. More than likely. He’s really good at throwing them and I’m ready to catch them.
“I think I fit with them because they play a lot of pick and roll with a ballhandler like Kyrie. And they’re looking to throw a lot of lobs.”
The Mavericks weren’t able to keep 7-2 Moses Brown because he was ineligible for a two-way contract because of his years of service in the NBA.
That led to the signing of Jones, who was waived by the Los Angeles Clippers last week and has played in 95 career games with Charlotte and the Clippers. He originally was the 19th overall draft pick in the 2021 draft, taken by the New York Knicks.
Jones, 24, averaged 2.2 points and 1.6 rebounds in 7.4 minutes during 28 games with the Clippers this season.
Jason Kidd said that Jones gives the Mavericks a viable option when it comes to depth in the post.
“You look at the athleticism, he’s played in some NBA games, so he has experience,” Kidd said. “So he’ll get an opportunity.”
That opportunity came early in the first quarter against Sacramento on Monday and quickly made his presence felt with an offensive rebound and a foul call against the Kings when he went up for the follow-dunk.
It was a successful debut for Jones with 21 points and nine rebounds. He hit nine of 10 shots. But the game was a blowout in the second half, rendering any statistical highlights moot.
When Kidd was asked about the possibility of a Kai-to-Kai lob play, he said: “We can only hope. That would be something we haven’t had of late, being able to play vertical. Hopefully with these 12 games we can that relationship built that we can play a little vertical.”
That idea was put on hold when Irving left Monday’s game with a left knee sprain. But Jones clearly gives the Mavericks the threat of going over the top of a defense, even if it’s somebody else delivering the pass.
“Definitely unfortunate,” Jones said of Irving’s injury. “I thought we could have really got it going with the pick and roll, especially how they were playing us. But I hope he gets a quick recovery.”
Jones is a native of Nassau, Bahamas, and he played in his first two seasons in the league alongside P.J. Washington in Charlotte. He spent two seasons at the University of Texas and was named the Big 12 sixth man of the year in 2021.
Jones said his primary goal was to bring energy, have fun and “win the game.”
For Kidd, it gives him flexibility for the coming games that the Mavericks will remain without Lively, Gafford and Anthony Davis. After playing Monday, Jones has 11 more games for which he can be eligible at the NBA level. The Mavericks also have nine NBA games for which Kessler Edwards can be eligible.
Two-way players are limited to 50 active games for NBA teams in a season.
“It’s always good to have flexibility, just in case you have to pivot,” Kidd said. “To get someone like Kai on a two-way is important for the 12 games we have him for. He’s got a great group of guys around him. We need him to play. He’s another 7-footer, which we need. We have had success in these type situations before.”
Speaking of Edwards: The Mavericks have been thankful to have Edwards on a two-way deal with their injury situation.
Sacramento coach Doug Christie said that Edwards has come a long way since he was with the Kings two seasons back when Christie was an assistant coach.
“Well, he’s a Pepperdine alum, first and foremost, so I have a lot of respect for Kess,” said Christie, who also went to Pepperdine. “I’m a fan of Kess and how he plays. He plays with his heart and extremely hard every moment he’s out there.
“Whatever you ask him to do, he’s going to do and those are players that you just love. I’m super happy for him and all his success.”
Briefly: Christie, by the way, is no relation to Mavericks’ guard Max Christie, although he said some people in the NBA have made that mistake. “Yeah, there’s been some referees (that thought they were related),” Doug Christie said. “There’s been a lot of different people, but no. Great last name . . . but there’s only one Dougie Christie.” . . . The Mavericks will head to Milwaukee on Tuesday for a Wednesday night meeting with the Bucks, who won at the AAC on Saturday 132-117.
X: @ESefko
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