The Phoenix Suns announced today that they have signed power forward / center Dwayne Jones.
Jones was a nice practice player for the Suns last season after he joined the team as a late-year D-league call-up. He didn't get any significant playing time with the Suns during the playoffs but obviously impressed people enough with his work ethic and rebounding potential to earn a spot back with the team after being traded away in the Hedo Turkoglu deal and then waived by Toronto.
The Suns have long been reported to be looking for another big man to help the team's admitted weakness in front court rebounding.
"Obviously, size is going to be a little bit of a factor for us as we move forward, the rebounding part of it, but we have sat down and talked a little bit, Lon, Lance, and I; I think the toughest thing to find, obviously, is the real talented big guys to add to your roster," Gentry said last week when new GM Lance Blanks was introduced to the media.
It would seem that after not finding any other options, the team went back to the one they knew ... and at least liked, if not loved.
The terms of Jone's contract with the Suns have not yet been reported.
Here's bio info on Jones from the official press release:
PHOENIX - The Phoenix Suns today announced that the club has signed forward/center Dwayne Jones. Jones was traded by the Suns along with Leandro Barbosa to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Hedo Turkoglu on July 14, and was waived by the Raptors on August 16.
Originally signed by Phoenix on April 5, 2010, Jones saw action in two regular season games and two playoff contests for the Suns. The 6-11, 250-pound Jones spent the 2009-10 season with the Austin Toros of the NBA Development League before Phoenix made him the league's 34th GATORADE Call-Up last year.
The 2009-10 D-League rebounding leader averaged 17.6 points (18th) and a league-best 16.0 rebounds in 40.0 minutes in 48 games (48 starts) for the Toros. Jones averaged four rebounds more than any other D-Leaguer and led the league with 43 double-doubles, 15 more than the nearest player. His 59.8-percent field goal percentage ranked third-best.
A D-League standout, the St. Joseph's (PA) product also has NBA experience after spending parts of each of the last five seasons with the Suns, Charlotte Bobcats (2008-09), Cleveland Cavaliers (2006-07, 2007-08) and Boston Celtics (2005-06). His longest NBA stint came in 2007-08 with the Cavs where he saw action in 56 regular season games, averaging 1.4 points and 2.5 rebounds in 8.4 minutes. Jones also earned postseason experience after seeing action in five games with Cleveland in the 2008 NBA Playoffs.
Jones owns career D-League averages of 14.7 points, 13.7 rebounds and 35.4 minutes in 110 games (106 starts) with the Florida Flame (2005-06), Albuquerque Thunderbirds (2006-07), Iowa Energy (2008-09), Idaho Stampede (2008-09) and Austin Toros (2008-09, 2009-10).
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