Dillon

Jones

After playing well in his first two games in Salt Lake City to begin the week, Jones’ production took a hit in Oklahoma City’s finale on Wednesday. He got back on track in his Vegas debut, even if the Thunder were on the wrong end of a blowout. While Jones may not offer significant fantasy value in redraft leagues, his upside is high enough to merit being selected in dynasty formats.

Jones shined on Tuesday, but playing his third game in as many days, he wasn’t able to replicate that shooting performance in this one. Through three games, Jones is averaging 12.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.7 steals per game. The first round pick out of Weber State has played well overall this summer, though he has had two lackluster shooting nights. He will have to fight to be part of the rotation on a deep, competitive team during his rookie season. However, he has raised his dynasty stock this summer.

Jones played well in his Summer League debut on Monday, but he was on a different level in this one. It’s still early, but he is looking like a steal for the Thunder. He was incredibly efficient from the floor and made an impact across the board. He didn’t have as many rebounds and assists as he did against the 76ers, but he was a far better scoring option. Jones may struggle to see the floor much on a talented Thunder squad during his rookie season, but his early returns this summer are encouraging.

The 26th overall pick in last month’s draft, Jones did not have his best night shooting the basketball. However, the former Weber State standout moved into the first round because of his all-around productivity. And that was on display, with Jones leading the Thunder in rebounding (ten) and assists (seven). The turnover count was higher than one would want, as he accumulated five, but that will happen when sharing the court with new teammates. Jones’ fantasy impact as a rookie could be muted due to the depth that Oklahoma City has, but he’ll be a solid option in dynasty leagues.

The 6-foot-5 Jones is a bit of a tweener position-wise, as there are questions regarding his fit at either shooting guard or small forward. The Weber State standout has the physical strength required to take on the three at the NBA level, and he can also handle some playmaking responsibilities on offense. While Jones did not shoot the ball well from three during his time at Weber State, he was an 82% foul shooter, a sign that there is room for positive growth. Jones played in 31 games for the Wildcats in 2023-24, averaging 20.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 2.0 steals, and 1.1 3-pointers. After a successful college career, Jones will look to compete for minutes in OKC’s rotation. His role will be incredibly different on a contending team in the NBA than it was in college, and while he may be able to adjust well, he may not be able to make much of a fantasy impact.