Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor is interested in acquiring Tyus Jones at the June 25 NBA Draft. During a telephone interview with Sports Headliners Taylor also said his franchise talked to Fred Hoiberg this year and last about his interest in possibly leaving Iowa State and coaching in the NBA.
Jones, the 19-year-old point guard who led Apple Valley High School to a state championship last year and helped Duke win the NCAA title this spring, would be a public relations coup for the Wolves and add depth to the roster. He’s a target of autograph seekers and adoring kids when he’s back home in Minnesota.
The Wolves have the No. 1 pick in the draft and also two second round selections. Jones is a consensus choice to be taken somewhere in the mid to late portion of the first round—meaning the Wolves would have to acquire an additional first round draft pick to get him. Another possibility is during or after the draft making a trade with a club that has drafted Jones.
“I think he’s got great potential and he is a local kid,” Taylor said. “I think it would be interesting. We’re not overstocked at that position (point guard), especially if Zach moves to the two-position.”
Zach LaVine was a rookie last season and he can play point guard and shooting guard. If Jones came to the Wolves he could be the team’s primary backup to starting point guard Ricky Rubio.
Taylor, whose team likely will use its No. 1 first round selection on a center, expects that president-coach Flip Saunders and general manager Milt Newton will consider adding Jones to the roster. “I don’t know how we could get that done for sure,” Taylor said. “I think there are other teams that are interested. My guess is that Flip and Milt will make inquiries and see if somebody is interested in giving up that draft choice so that that could happen. It would be a nice thing for Minnesota to have that, to do that.”
Saunders, before becoming the Wolves president of basketball operations in 2013, watched Jones play in high school. Saunders was living in the Minneapolis area and while he wasn’t employed by an NBA organization he showed interest in Jones while seeing him play, and the two developed a relationship.
At 6-1, 190-pounds Jones doesn’t have imposing size. Concerns are raised that he could be exploited in defensive matchups against bigger players, or not be physically up to the NBA grind of a long season. His outside shooting range and accuracy is another area that prompts questions. But Jones, even as a rookie, could be a gifted playmaker with his unselfish style and extraordinary court vision. In high school and last season as a freshman at Duke he was a calm leader who often made the biggest plays when needed the most.
Not unexpectedly, draft evaluators are split on their views of Jones. A May 8 story by Bleacherreport.com was headlined: “Tyus Jones Will Be the Breakout Star of the 2015 NBA Draft.” Judd Olanoff praised Jones’ skill in executing the pick-and-roll, a staple of NBA offenses.
Olanoff noted the young point guard’s intangibles, too. “If NBA teams value commitment, dedication and toughness, I’m not sure what more they could ask for. Those teams should consider making a bet on Jones.”
Others aren’t as enthused about Jones. Jeff Goodman, the ESPN analyst, spoke about Jones during the May 14 NBA Draft Combine and he expressed doubt Jones could start for a playoff team but might be a “backup point guard for 10 to 12 years.”
Regarding Hoiberg, he left Iowa State last week to become head coach of the NBA Bulls. The hire didn’t surprise Taylor whose franchise had contacted Hoiberg this spring, although no formal job offer was made, the Wolves owner said. Hoiberg, who had played for both the Wolves and Bulls, indicated his interest to Taylor awhile ago about going to Chicago where the talent is in place for a title contender. “He just said that was kind of like a dream come true for him,” Taylor said about Hoiberg’s anticipation of coaching the Bulls.
What about the Wolves coaching job in 2014 that Saunders ultimately accepted and continues to hold? Again, Taylor said there was no formal offer to Hoiberg but there was conversation about the NBA. “What he told us at that particular time was that he was going to stay at Iowa State,” Taylor said. “They offered him a bigger contract, but that at sometime that he might be interested in coaching in the NBA.”
Worth Noting
Taylor expects to attend information gathering meetings with top draft prospects Jahlil Okafor, D’Angelo Russell and Karl-Anthony Towns. Taylor will listen to a trade offer for the No. 1 selection, but said “I don’t see it happening.”
Taylor represented the Wolves at the Draft Lottery last month where for the first time in club history his franchise won the No. 1 selection. It was an emotional moment when the announcement came that the Wolves will draft first. There appeared to be a tear or two in Taylor’s eyes.
“Oh, I don’t know. I might have (tears),” Taylor said. “I’ve been known to be a little emotional.”
The Website Draftexpress.com predicts Jones will be selected by the Mavericks with the No. 21 pick in the first round of the NBA Draft. Jones is one of 13 prospects who were college freshmen last winter that Draftexpress projects will be among the 30 first round draft choices. College fans wish the NBA would adopt a rule that says players must either declare for the draft out of high school or not be eligible until they have been in college for two or three years.
Hondo Hughes, the well-known local magician who performs next Sunday afternoon at the Richfield American Legion, sent Hoiberg congratulations on his hire as Bulls coach. “The Amazing Hondo” first performed in front of Hoiberg when he played for the Timberwolves. After Hoiberg was hired as head coach at Iowa State he invited the Minnesota magic man to entertain the Cyclones. “He makes you feel like a friend,” Hondo wrote in an e-mail to Sports Headliners. “He’s more substance than style.”
Look for an announcement this summer—or by early fall—about the naming rights for the new Vikings stadium. As written here and elsewhere, it seems likely U.S. Bank will have its name on the stadium.
Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph has a new sleeve tattoo on his left arm that includes a shamrock because of Notre Dame, his Fighting Irish alma mater.
Former Gophers football player Mark Sheffert, who is Chairman and CEO of Manchester Companies, Inc. and a Bolder Options director, has been named as the non-profit organization’s Board Chair. Sheffert is a nationally recognized leader, author and advisor on corporate governance. As Board Chair, Sheffert will guide Bolder Options’ leadership and board as they work together on youth mentoring development goals.
Former Gophers All-American defensive end Bob Stein and ex-Saint John’s All-American wide receiver Blake Elliott are among players on the 2016 ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. Their names were included in an announcement by the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame. Among ex-head coaches on the ballot are Ross Fortier, Minnesota Moorhead; Jim Malosky, UMD; and Billy Jack Murphy, Memphis. Murphy was an assistant coach for the Gophers from 1954-1957 before becoming Memphis head coach.
Players Keith Ballard, Ryan Carter, Charlie Coyle, Matt Dumba, Jordan Leopold and Jason Zucker will participate in The Wells Fargo Minnesota Wild Road Tour starting June 23. The promotional trip will visit 17 communities and culminate in the June 26 Summer Bash and NHL Draft Viewing party from 6 to 9 p.m. at Xcel Energy Center.
Note: Tyus Jones was also my Mr. Basketball of Minnesota winner in 2014
Thank you,
Ken