2023-24 Spurs Player Reviews: Tre Jones

Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

Jones did everything the Spurs asked of him and showed that he might still have some untapped potential.

Welcome to Pounding the Rock’s 2023-24 player reviews! The series will look at the 15 players who finished the season with the San Antonio Spurs on guaranteed contracts (so no two-way players because we saw so little of them this year, and no Doug McDermott). Enjoy!

Tre Jones

2023-24 stats: 77 games, 10 points, 3.8 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 50.5%FG

Contract Status: 1 year, $9.1 million remaining

Age: 24

Jones did a good enough job in the 2022/23 season as the Spurs’ starting point guard to earn a new deal to stay in San Antonio. The young floor general was a steadying force on a bad team and while his upside never seemed particularly high, he proved he could be a floor raiser and culture setter. When the news came that Jeremy Sochan was going to get the starting point guard job, the concerns were centered on how the forward would adapt and not how Jones would fare off the bench, because the former second-round pick had proved he was the type of player that would contribute no matter his role.

Jones did a good job running the second unit and was one of the few players who had some immediate chemistry with Victor Wembanyama, then after 33 games of mostly abysmal point guard play in the starting lineup, he got the opportunity to fill in for Malaki Branham and never returned to the second unit. The improvement for the team, which had already moved Zach Collins and Keldon Johnson to the bench, was noticeable, but Jones wasn’t a savior. He just pushed the pace, kept his dribble alive to put some pressure on the defense, and found Wembanyama more than anyone else on the roster, assisting him on 105 buckets. Tre proved once again that despite his limitations he can keep an offense running, with the Spurs scoring 110.9 points per 100 possessions with him on the court, the highest of any rotation player.

Jones also showed significant individual improvement on one of his biggest weaknesses as a player in the second half of the season. After becoming a starter Jones shot 38.8 percent from beyond the arc. Most of those makes came on wide-open looks from the corner, but it was still a huge leap for a guy who came into last season shooting 27 percent for his career from beyond the arc. If the progress is real, Jones’ ceiling will need to be reconsidered.

Looking forward

Jones will enter the last year of his contract in a good position. Even if the Spurs draft or sign another point guard, playing time should be all but guaranteed for Tre after his performance last season. Whether it’s as a starter or bench player shouldn’t matter much, since he’s proved he can handle both roles. His steadiness on and off the floor is a great fit for a young team that can be a little careless with the ball and go through stretches where emotions get the better of them. It’s really hard to imagine San Antonio trading Jones this offseason.

Whether he’s in the long-term plans is another story. If his shot continues to develop and he can be consistent with his already useful floater, Jones could be a very well-rounded offensive player who can orchestrate the offense without dominating the ball, which would make him a good fit next to Wembanyama, Vassell, and whichever high profile prospects the Spurs land in the draft. His height will always be an issue on defense in certain matchups, but Jones always plays with effort and physicality. Even if the front office doesn’t see him as the point guard of the future — a completely understandable stance — he could be a great rotation piece who could mentor a younger point guard or serve as a stopgap until the right lead guard becomes available.

The big question is, would Jones be happy staying in San Antonio past this upcoming season while knowing that he’ll eventually be replaced as a starter or always be viewed as a backup? Jones will be an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career next offseason and if the threes keep falling, he won’t lack suitors. If someone offers Tre a starting spot and an eight-figure contract, no one could blame him for leaving. Similarly, if a contender in need of guard plays off the bench comes knocking, it could be hard for him to pass that up. This upcoming season could be Jones’ last as a Spur and if there’s no plan in place to replace him, San Antonio could miss him.