Philadelphia 76ers: Waiving Mason Jones was a mistake
In a surprising move, the Philadelphia 76ers announced they had waived two-way contract wing, Mason Jones. The franchise is less than 10 games away from the postseason, so to make a roster shakeup was an unforeseeable move.
Considering that I recently wrote about how Jones should be a part of the future, I’m taking the position that it was a bad move by the franchise.
The Philadelphia 76ers shouldn’t have waived Jones
Before going undrafted in the 2020 NBA Draft, he was an elite scorer as a sophomore at Arkansas. In his second year of college, he averaged 22.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.1 steals. That season he shot 45.3 percent from the field and 35.1 percent from the 3-point line.
More from The Sixer Sense
- 3 Sixers players who could help Team USA Basketball
- 76ers 2k24 ratings: 3 most underrated players on Philadelphia roster
- 76ers head coach Nick Nurse bares lofty plans for Paul Reed this season
- Grade the Trade: 76ers swap Tobias Harris for superstar PG in mock deal
- Sixers Podcast: Danny Green returns + James Harden bombshell
With both the Sixers and Houston Rockets this year, Jones is averaging 5.3 points on 42.3 percent from the floor and 36.4 percent from deep. Considering he’s only played in 32 games and was averaging just 10.4 minutes per game, this is a very solid production.
Hopefully, Jones finds a new home in the NBA, however, this was a surprising move that the Sixers decided to part ways with the rookie. The 76ers have tried to minimalize making moves to keep chemistry consistent this season. Keeping that in mind, to shake it up right be the playoffs doesn’t make sense unless he was causing locker room problems which there hasn’t been any indication that he was at this point.
The only reason to waive Jones is to forty the center position entering the playoffs. Philly only has two true centers on the roster in Joel Embiid and Dwight Howard. They could go small with guys like Mike Scott, Anthony Tolliver, Paul Reed, and Ben Simmons, but having a third true center on the roster would help.
Some centers like Omer Yurtseven, Bennie Boatwright, and Ivan Rabb (who played for the Sixers’ G-League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats) would be good eligible two-way contract players still available. Surely, there are other young big men available to sign a two-way contract as well if Philly decides to go that route as well.
Next. 3 players with something to prove in the playoffs. dark
Jones had a lot of potential as a scorer that the Philadelphia 76ers gave up on. It’s a mistake that may come back to haunt the team in the future.