The Dallas Mavericks have sealed a new deal with center Kai Jones, who joins the squad under a Two-Way contract. To make room for this addition, the Mavericks have decided to release fellow Two-Way center Kylor Kelley.
Standing at 6-foot-11 and weighing 221 pounds, Kai Jones has made his mark in the NBA with 95 appearances for the Charlotte Hornets and the Los Angeles Clippers. During his time on the court, he has maintained an average of 2.5 points with a shooting accuracy of 60% and snagged 1.9 rebounds across roughly 8.6 minutes per game.
The 24-year-old, who was released on March 1, is now ready to start afresh with the Mavericks. While with the Clippers in the 2024-25 season, he played in 28 games, contributing an average of 2.2 points on 72.2% shooting and 75% from the free-throw line, along with 1.6 rebounds in about 7.4 minutes per outing.
Originally, the New York Knicks picked Jones 19th in the 2021 NBA Draft, but his rights were swiftly traded to Charlotte. Hailing from Nassau, Bahamas, Jones spent his initial two seasons with the Hornets, where he teamed up with Mavericks’ forward P.J. Washington Jr. from 2021 to 2023.
Before stepping into the NBA, Jones showcased his skills at the University of Texas, where he shone brightly enough to earn titles such as the Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year and an All-Big 12 honorable mention back in 2021. On his new team, Jones will sport the No. 23 jersey.
On the other hand, Kylor Kelley, who stands 7 feet tall and weighs 230 pounds, joined the Mavericks on a Two-Way contract on January 26. Kelley quickly stepped onto the NBA floor the very next day against Washington. Over his eight-game stint with Dallas, including one start, he managed to average 3.0 points and 2.6 rebounds while playing roughly 8.4 minutes each game.
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