The Denver Nuggets are in the market for a player who can help address the need for depth at point guard. It's a development that seemed all but destined to transpire after the Nuggets lost Russell Westbrook to free agency and targeted other positions in their search for a deeper rotation.
As the Nuggets peruse their options and attempt to lock in on the perfect point guard for the second unit, they must seriously consider a move for Orlando Magic playmaker Tyus Jones.
Denver was active during the 2025 offseason, acquiring Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Jonas Valanciunas. The moves have greatly improved the Nuggets' wing and interior depth, thus enabling the stars to play fewer minutes.
According to Matt Moore of FanSided, the Nuggets hope to round out an excellent run of acquisitions by adding a point guard who can consistently and efficiently space the floor.
"The Nuggets are said to be actively looking for a point guard who can add shooting, even before Christian Braun’s ankle injury, which will keep him out six weeks."
Thankfully, Jones checks the box as an efficient three-point shooter and high-level playmaker who should be available in trade discussions.
Nuggets want a point guard who can shoot—and Tyus Jones fits the bill
Jones signed with the Magic on a one-year, $7 million contract that makes the money relatively easy to match in a potential trade. Despite checking boxes in regard to what Orlando needed, however, he's averaged just 12.7 minutes per game early in 2025-26.
That seemingly implies the Magic would at least be willing to entertain a potential trade offer, as they're otherwise keeping Jones with no true return on their investment.
In Denver, Jones would have a chance to play in a system that accentuates his strengths and thus restore his reputation. He's a career 37.5 percent shooter from beyond the arc who has buried 41.4 percent of his attempts in each of the past two seasons.
Jones also shot 39.0 percent from three-point range in 2022-23, thus supporting the notion that his surge to elite efficiency as a shooter is sustainable.
Tyus Jones can take pressure off of Nikola Jokic in on and off-ball roles
In addition to being an excellent shooter in a general sense, Jones is willing and able to play without the ball. He shot 43.0 percent on 4.1 catch-and-shoot three-point field goals per game in 2024-25 and buried 42.2 percent of his 2.7 attempts per contest in 2023-24.
With Jokic operating from the elbow and Jones capable of finding space in a defense for efficient shots, the Nuggets' offensive efficiency could reach an even higher level.
Jones' shooting is an obvious strength, but his multifaceted appeal is built around his status as one of the NBA's most efficient playmakers. His elite assist-to-turnover ratio of 4.71 in 2024-25 was not only the second-best mark in the Association, but his lowest figure since 2017-18.
Between 2022-23 and 2024-25, Jones accumulated averages of 5.9 assists and just 1.0 turnover per game—the type of production the Nuggets would be wise to covet.
Jones is a selfless player who makes smart decisions with the ball in his hands and always looks to set his teammates up for success. For a player like Jokic, who shoulders an unrivaled offensive workload, that could be a crucial step toward simplifying the game for the three-time MVP.
The Nuggets have been diligent in their efforts to improve the second unit, and with a trade for Jones, they can check multiple boxes as they improve the depth of the rotation and make the game easier for their franchise player.