The Los Angeles Lakers have kicked off their free agency by bringing back a familiar face. They will reportedly be signing center Damian Jones to a two-year deal. The second-year will be a player option (per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski).
Free agent C Damian Jones has agreed to a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2022
It is unknown at this time how much the contract will be. The Lakers either signed him to the taxpayer mid-level exception that amounts to around $6.4 million per year, or they signed him to a veteran minimum contract. The deal would be a little questionable at the TMLE.
Either way, the Lakers kick off their free agency with a pretty great signing. Ever since Jones played in a 10-day contract for the team during the 2020-21 season, he has been exceling with the Sacramento Kings. Across one-and-a-half seasons with them, he averaged 7.8 points (on 65.8% field-goal shooting), 4.4 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 18.2 minutes per game. He played 56 games last season, starting 15 of them.
Earlier today, I detailed how Jones could be a great signing for the team if the Magic’s Mo Bamba wasn’t able to be had with their taxpayer mid-level exception (Bamba returned to the Magic on a new deal). He will be a great mobile big to be used in pick-and-rolls with LeBron James and Russell Westbrook (if he’s not dealt for Kyrie Irving or another package by the time next season starts). He’s also a force on defense at the rim, ranking in the 80th percentile in D-LEBRON (B-Ball Index’s advanced defensive metric) compared to all of the NBA.
Welcome back to L.A., Damian Jones!
NOTE:
In addition, the Lakers will not be bringing back Malik Monk as he has taken a deal with more money than what the Lakers could have offered, heading to Sacramento to play with the Kings.
Sources: Malik Monk is signing a two-year, $19M deal to join the Kings. https://t.co/spgbvRZspx
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022
