Kings Sign Isaac Jones to an NBA Contract

Jones Signs to a Two Year Deal

It was reported by ESPN’s top NBA Insider, Shams Charania, on Saturday that the Kings would be signing two-way player Isaac Jones to a full NBA contract. Charania’s tweet reported that, “The Sacramento Kings are converting two-way center Isaac Jones on a standard, two-year contract, sources tell ESPN.”

There weren’t many informative details on the contract besides the fact that Jones will now be signed for two more years. Keon Ellis was converted to a full NBA contract last season and his per-year number came up to $2.1 million. Given the fact that Ellis was playing well in a key role for the Kings as the starting two guard down the stretch run of the season whereas Jones has only received spot minutes throughout the year, it would be safe to assume Jones’ salary will be fairly less than that.

This was certainly a well-deserved reward for Jones. He had shown good flashes during his brief stints in the NBA with the Kings this season as an athletic, lob-threat archetype at the center position. In the games he logged 10 or more minutes in, Jones averaged 7.8 points (55.5% FG) and 3.3 rebounds in 16.7 minutes of action. Jones developed well during his time well in the G-League this year, where he looked a step ahead of the competition. He put up a cool 20.9 points and 10.0 rebounds a game for the Stockton Kings.

The conversion of Jones’ contract to a full NBA contract now means he is eligible to suit up for the Kings on any given night if Doug Christie elects to play him. Jones had already reached the cap of 50 games played on the year. Two-way contracts are not allowed to exceed that threshold within a season.

The conversion also provides the Kings the opportunity to play Jones in a Play-In game (and the Playoffs, should the Kings get there). It looks very likely that the Kings will at a bare minimum be playing in the 9 vs. 10 matchup in the Play-In.

It remains to see how much playing time Jones will get for the rest of the season. But the Kings clearly took a liking to what they have seen of the young prospect both in the NBA and in the G-League. He now joins the fold of the younger “core” of the team locked into the future for the Kings, alongside the aforementioned Keon Ellis, Devin Carter, and Keegan Murray.