Former West Virginia forward Kevin Jones has discussed the parameters and is expected to agree to a three-year, partially-guaranteed, multi-million dollar contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers, his agent, Bill Neff, told SNY.tv.
Free agents cannot formally sign deals until July 11.
“We’re just real excited because it’s a good fit,” Neff said. “We had a strategy. The bottom line is we wanted to get him to a certain team and this is precisely the kind of team we wanted to get him to that would develop him.”
Neff said Jones will play with the Cavaliers’ summer league team and could potentially play with their D-League franchise.
“He’s looking forward to showing some people that they missed on him,” Neff said.
The 6-foot-8 Mount Vernon, N.Y., native went undrafted during Thursday’s NBA Draft but will now join a roster of familiar faces, including former St. Patrick star Kyrie Irving, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, former St. Benedict’s Prep forward Tristan Thompson and Philadelphia native and former Syracuse star Dion Waiters, the No. 4 pick in the draft.
A second-team All-American, Jones was devastated when he wasn’t picked in Thursday’s draft, but vowed he would make a team as a free agent.
“Of course this whole situation is going to make me hungry,” Jones told SNY.tv then. “I felt like I should’ve been a first-round pick, at most top 40.
“But I mean, things happen. So just gotta find a new way there, but I’m going to make a new way there, regardless, no matter what.”
gman / June 30, 2012
His agent’s strategy was to get him a non-guaranted contract? Sounds like KJ needs a new agent.
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affolter / July 1, 2012
Good for Jones. Hope it works out.
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Tusker / July 1, 2012
While I’m pretty bummed KJ didn’t hear his name called in the draft, this may work out for the best for him. He’s a solid back of the rotation defender and rebounder. And he can stick an open J.
GO KJ, GO WVU
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