Tuesday, March 9th, 2010...6:59 am
Dwayne Jones still looking for his shot
Dwayne Jones is visibly frustrated. You’d think a guy who just put up 26 points and 14 rebounds against first round draft pick Byron Mullens, in a win over his team’s conference rival, would look happier.
The 6’11″ center stands in his socks, game shorts and un-tucked jersey in the hallway outside the Toros locker room at the Austin Convention Center talking to Dell Demps. Demps, the Toros General Manager and Spurs Director of Pro Player Personnel, is doing everything he can to reassure Jones that eventually he’ll have a chance to play in the NBA again.
“Up until yesterday when Alonzo got called up nobody from our team, besides me getting a couple of workouts, got any inkling from the NBA,” Jones said. “We have some NBA talent on our team, but nobody can get the opportunity.”
Jones currently leads the D-League in rebounding with an average of 15.6 rebounds per game and is tops in double-doubles with 32 on the season, while the Toros have a 23-13 record and are second in the West Conference. Jones’ 17.4 points per game is fourth on the Toros this season despite not being a focal point of the offense. The majority of his baskets come from offensive rebounds and pick-and-roll situations.
“I more so understand my role when I do get called up, what I’ll get called up for is defense and rebounding,” he said.
It seems like a player with those qualities and awareness of his limits would fit well on an NBA bench, playing minutes. But that hasn’t been the case for Jones.
“It’s frustrating, but if you actually look at it, it’s really been a lot of guards,” Jones said about seeing other D-Leaguers get called up to the NBA. “It’s not like I’m getting passed up by other people putting up a lesser season than myself.”
Jones has been close, though. On February 23 Jones worked out for the Dallas Mavericks, who were short a big man after a finger injury to Erick Dampier. Jones thought signing with the Mavs was a foregone conclusion when he flew up to Dallas for the workout. The Mavs, he said, even went so far as to tell him what time to be at shoot around before their game against the Los Angeles Lakers the following day.
But in the end, Dallas altered course and decided to only offer a 10-day contract to Von Wafer, who was also brought in to workout for the team. Wafer was brought in to fill a roster spot after Dallas’ trade with the Washington Wizards, which netted the Mavs Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson.
According to ESPN.com’s Marc Stein, the Mavs were also holding out hope that they could sign Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Ilgauskas was traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Washington Wizards and bought out of his contract. Ilgauskas, though, is expected to sit out the mandatory 30 days and return to the Cavs.
Over the last several days, the relationship between the Toros and San Antonio Spurs has become clearer. San Antonio doesn’t necessarily look to Austin to fill holes on their roster and Toros players aren’t expecting their dreams of the NBA to be achieved in San Antonio. Both assumptions were solidified by Monday’s rumor that the Spurs will call up Cedric Jackson from the Erie BayHawks and Alonzo Gee’s call up to the Wizards for a 10-day contract on Sunday.
“I would love to be a Spur, but I haven’t heard too much from them on that aspect,” Jones said. “Ian Mahinmi is up there and he’s not even getting too much time.”
So instead, Toros players will play under San Antonio’s umbrella but look anywhere for their shot at the NBA. Somewhere where they can showcase their talent and contribute at the highest level in basketball.
“I’m sure I can be at the end of the bench somewhere,” Jones said. “But I’d much rather be out there, being able to contribute, as opposed to just saying that I’m on the team.”
16 Comments
March 9th, 2010 at 7:47 am
Thank goodness Pop and the Spurs don’t need defense and rebounding! Remember, POP has won 4 rings, so fans and media DARE NOT question his genius. Don’t question him starting Keith “defensive master” Bogans every game. Don’t question him changing his blessed playbook to try to jump start RJ. Don’t question him drawing up a potential game winning 3 point shot for Mason when Mason is 0-7 at that point. And don’t even dare question why Dwayne Jones can’t even get a 10-day contract to see if he can help when it’s EVIDENTLY CLEAR the Spurs aren’t going anywhere this year. POP IS A GENIUS!
March 9th, 2010 at 7:53 am
Quick question: why then did the Spurs decide to become affiliated with the Toros? I thought Coach Snyder was running basic Spurs plays with the Toros so that any Toros player would have an easier time transitioning to the Spurs? The media is always saying how long it takes for players to learn Pop’s GENIUS SYSTEM, so what gives? If Pop, THE GENIUS, stated any new player wouldn’t make any difference this year and wouldn’t play - more GENIUS, by the way - they what would it hurt calling up Curtiss Jerrells to help with Tony out? Jerrells spent camp with the Spurs and has played with Toros all season. But Pop - THE GENIUS - would rather bring in a new guy who knows NOTHING about the Spurs? Excuse me, but I need to go find a match so I can light myself on fire.
March 9th, 2010 at 8:31 am
IF A SYSTEM IS TO COMPLICATED FOR A 7FTER TO UNDERSTAND?THATS SAYS IT ALL…A BIG MAN IS THE SIMPLEST POSITION.REB,BLOCK,PIK N ROLL.anything more complicated then that is just b.s.you cant reinvent the wheel
March 9th, 2010 at 10:06 am
Blofield-
Thank you for being one of the resident blo-hards. if you watched the damn game, the play wasnt drawn up for Mason. The play was drawn up for Hill to be wide open in the corner, which he was. RMJ took the shot instead of making the smart pass. That doesnt go on Pop.
March 9th, 2010 at 10:24 am
Unfortunately, winning will attract these kinds of fans. If any of these guys were around during the Hill, Lucas, and Tarkanian eras, they would appreciate a good coach who brings consistancy to the organization.
I give up though. Let’s get rid of Pop and get somebody better. There’s the easy solution. While we’re at it, let’s ship Duncan out and see if we can get some young talent.
March 9th, 2010 at 11:09 am
Duncan for Darko. Let’s do it this summer.
March 9th, 2010 at 11:51 am
This article doesn’t even state the obvious. Tony Parker is out for the remainder of the regular season. That changes the Spurs need for a 13th player. Tony is the only point guard the Spurs have.
Manu can run the offense and Hill can bring the ball up the court; then hand it to Manu. If either of those guys have to miss a game there isn’t another option.
They need a point guard and Jerrells may not be the best option in the D-League.
The relationship has always been clear. If the player is not on the Spurs roster, then they can sign with any team that calls them up, and the Spurs can certainly call up any player in the D-League that is not on an NBA roster. Nothing has changed. Geez…
Personally, I hoping Marcus Williams would find his way back since he was the last cut, but he’s not a point guard either.
March 9th, 2010 at 11:52 am
He looks like he’s worth bringing over during the summer. He’ll get more shot of making the team then compared to now. He might be frustrated now, but he should be patient for what the summer brings. Spurs will need a bunch of young guys who are cheap next season since bringing in Splitter and keeping Manu pretty much eats all their payroll.
March 9th, 2010 at 12:35 pm
LOL at blofeld
March 9th, 2010 at 1:41 pm
I have been saying for over 2 months now that the Warriors - home of the d-leaguers - should pick up Dwayne Jones ESPECIALLY with biedrins out the rest of the season. but Warriors brass likes them undersized and you got to be able to shoot 3s.
March 9th, 2010 at 2:51 pm
Blofeld,
the fact that you would have Pop bring in Dwayne Jones to pick up the slack from the minutes we are going to miss at PG, is for me a defining factor in why you are not actually the gifted front office decision maker which at first glance you appear to be.
It’s not like every other team in the NBA hasn’t considered him not quiet ready yet.
I mean Hasheem Thabeet is starring in the D league right now and he flat out sucks in the NBA.
It’s not a sure fire guarantee, but i’d suggest that the spurs are not in the minority when it comes to not offering Dwayne Jones a contract.
Just on a final note, Ian can’t get minutes, I have watched him in international play and in NBA play and I’ve never seen anything to get me excited. Still if he can’t get minutes why the hell would they bring Dwayne Jones up?
March 9th, 2010 at 4:10 pm
i was about to say some negative things but i just realized how frustrated i am, with everything this year has brought and how promising it was. I just hope some good news comes, because timmy doesnt deserve to go out like this.
March 9th, 2010 at 7:01 pm
Yaeh Zack I think everyones feeling the same way. I still hold out hope that we can rise far enough, but it is a vain hope.
I am really looking forward to a few things though. If we can solidify and get to the playoffs I would love to see George & Dejaun get some minutes and go hard. Likewise see Killer Manu do his thing.
I know this is wierd but if we’re not going to be a top seed i’d rather be playing the lakers in the first round. At least we’d get to see Manu go loco against them.
March 9th, 2010 at 7:26 pm
@Bushka, this team is not even ready to play the Mavs, and you want them to start with the Lakers?
March 10th, 2010 at 5:08 am
I don’t understand why teams keep giving Dwayne a look and keep deciding they don’t want him. Is there something we’re missing here? Even the big man strapped Blazers took a look at him and decided against it
March 10th, 2010 at 7:37 am
muwu - I think you answered your own question.
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