The Dallas Mavericks are waiving veteran guard Tyus Jones ahead of Sunday’s midnight roster deadline, sources told DallasHoopsJournal.com. The move trims the roster to 14 standard contracts and opens a spot that’s expected to go to two-way guard Ryan Nembhard, positioning him for a full NBA deal.
That shift had been building as Nembhard crept toward the 50-game active limit for two-way players. As it stands, his game count is 44. The decision also keeps the door open for further maneuvering, including a potential move involving forward Khris Middleton as the buyout deadline arrives Sunday night.
Jones was on a one-year, $7 million contract that will not carry over to next season’s books, leaving the Mavericks’ 2026-27 cap sheet untouched by dead money from his deal.
Tyus Jones Faces Short Dallas Mavericks Stint
Jones, 29, logged eight games with Dallas, averaging 3.9 points and 3.8 assists in 16.6 minutes per game. His best outing came in Minnesota on Feb. 20, when he finished with 13 points and six assists. He closed out his time as a Maverick Friday against Memphis with six points and four assists in 22 minutes. Erratic shooting undercut his case for a larger role throughout; he shot 38.2% from the field and just 21.1% from three.
Mid-season integration is rarely seamless for any player, but point guards carry an added burden. They are required to process an entirely new offensive vocabulary while simultaneously managing everyone else on the floor. Jones embraced the challenge.
“As a point guard, there’s a lot to learn,” he said during his first media availability. “I’ve been in the film, watching before games, living in film right now, learning the system and the calls.”
The front office had targeted Jones precisely because of his ability to absorb that kind of responsibility. Co-interim general manager Matt Riccardi made clear when Jones arrived that the organization saw him as more than a backup guard — they wanted a floor-level extension of the coaching staff.
“I think Tyus, as we mentioned before, is just a really good natural point guard,” Riccardi said. “He’s an organizer, he’s a game manager. He is different from the guys we currently have on the roster … we are hoping he can provide some leadership out there on the floor, some extension of our coaching staff on the floor during game play, and help organize our group.”
Head coach Jason Kidd had known Jones for years and shared that confidence, pointing to his versatility and his feel for the game as qualities that translate regardless of system.
“He’s played as a starter, as a backup,” Kidd said. “He went to Duke. We got quite a few of those guys on the team so ‘The Brotherhood’ will make sure that he’ll be successful. He understands how to play the game. His basketball IQ is extremely high.”
Dallas Mavericks Held Free Agency Interest in Tyus Jones
As DallasHoopsJournal.com reported around the time of Jones’ arrival, the Mavericks had interest in him last summer before he signed his one-year, $7 million deal with the Orlando Magic. Dallas was limited to the taxpayer midlevel exception, worth approximately $5.7 million, and used it to sign D’Angelo Russell instead. Months later, a trade delivered Jones to Dallas anyway — something he said felt inevitable in hindsight.
“Yeah, I was aware of it and definitely gave it consideration,” Jones said. “It’s one of those things that kind of felt meant to be, ending up here.”
Whatever the circumstances of his arrival, Jones made clear he liked what he found. The Mavericks, even in a lost season, have maintained a reputation as a connected group that moves the ball and competes nightly.
“Just a great group. Guys are together. They communicate,” Jones said. “Moving the ball, no problem giving it up, getting to the next action. I like the group we’ve got. A lot of great pieces, a lot of competitors.”
As February played out, Dallas leaned more on Brandon Williams and positionless lineups without a traditional point guard. Jones was unable to carve out a significant role. Because he was waived before the deadline, he remains playoff-eligible and can sign with a contender in need of backcourt depth.
Dallas Mavericks Face Path to Convert Ryan Nembhard’s Contract
The clear winner in this shuffle is Nembhard, whose play has pushed the Mavericks toward committing a standard roster spot. In 38 NBA games, the second-year guard has averaged 6.7 points and 4.9 assists while shooting 42.9% from the floor, giving Dallas steady minutes and a composed presence off the bench.
His trips to the G League have only reinforced that trajectory. With the Texas Legends, Nembhard has put up 22.4 points and 10.6 assists in five games, production that mirrors the workload and responsibility of a primary initiator.
Converting his contract would remove the two-way cap on NBA games and make him postseason-eligible, a move that signals the organization now views him as a long-term piece in its guard rotation rather than just a developmental flier.
Khris Middleton Faces Contract Buyout Decision
Jones’ exit also gives Dallas room for at least one more move before the deadline. One option that remains a possibility is a buyout with Middleton, who arrived from Washington last month and is still evaluating his options.
Middleton, 34, has delivered since joining the Mavericks, averaging 13.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in six games on 48.5% shooting from the floor and 36.4% from deep. He delivered a 25-point performance in Indiana on Feb. 22. The former NBA champion remains a logical candidate to chase another deep playoff run if he can reach the open market via buyout.
Kidd has been clear that the choice belongs to Middleton, saying the organization will back him whether he stays or seeks a buyout.
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