<div class="quote_poster">Quoting PalmBeachPost.com:</div><div class="quote_post">The Heat has found a veteran point guard who still has a future. Damon Jones, who was the starting point guard in Milwaukee last year after rookie T.J. Ford got hurt, signed with Miami on Thursday as an unrestricted free agent. Jones took the remainder of the Heat's $4.9 million mid-level exception and signed a two-year deal for about $5 million with the second year as his option.</div> Link
lol I was just about to post this, I'm actually very happy about the signing, Damon Jones is a guy who can take care of the ball, run the break, and pass the ball well. His defense isn't the best, but he can hit the outside shot, and will be a good addition to the team. I'm hearing that Malone might be signing too, if so, the team is / could be: PG - Wade | Jones | Dooling SG - Jones | Wade | Wright SF - Butler | Wright | Beasley PF - Malone | Haslem | Allen C - Shaq | Doleac | Who Cares 1 of the 3 major needs has been filled, now a starting PF, and a starting SF are needed. PF - Malone is a very likely choice, hopefully he can be gotten SF - Jumain Jones, Byron Russell, Rodney White,
Sup og15. I think with the signing of damon jones he or keyon dooling might start at the pg (jones probably will get it since he's been put to start before, is a better 3pt shooter, has more assists) which will solve our SF problem since Eddie Jones will be put to play SF and D Wade can go back to SG. All we need is a good PF and add more depth to SG, SF, and PF. Could look sumtin like: PG-Damon Jones | Keyon Dooling SG-Dwyane Wade | Rasual Butler | Dorell Wright SF-Eddie Jones | Rasual Butler | Jerome Beasley | Dorell Wright PF-Udonis Haslem | Malik Allen | Jerome Beasley C-Shaquille O'Neal | Michael Doleac | Wang ZhiZhi From what I understand the Heat are going to be switching D Wade from PG to SG to see how it works, and are still in the market for a veteran SF and PF. If Dorell Wright gets to play (probably won't start and I hear the Heat don't even trust him with the backup position for sf, dunno about sg) and he does well, he will add a lot of depth to the bench. And if Karl Malone joins the heat even better here's another article
Dwyane should play the point. He is the best at it. C- Shaq/Doleac PF-Malone(hopefully)/Udoinsi Haslem SF-Rasual Butler/Dorell Wright SG- Eddid Jones/Dwyane Wade PG-Dwyane Wade/Keyon DOoling/ Damon Jones I think we need a powere forward(Malone) and a SF. would've like Eric Williams ,but the Nets got him. Malone is a very underrated defender and one of the best defenders in the league.
I haven't watched his game yet except the ZO's groove and he seems to have a good range. But I still want Malone at PF.
EJ will play SF, Wade will play the 2 and Damon Jones will play point. EJ played SF when the Lakers had Peeler and Van Exel. Wade is a better scorer than distributor, he should be playing the 2.
Yeha I also think Wade will be playing the 2. Ej will play SF, which should be fine. I trust Damon Jones at the PG position, he can do a good job, just as long as he plays hard on defense and doesnt' commit many TOs, he'll be a perfect fit. Malone is all we need imo. With him, we definatly turn into a major contender.
Yea glad too. we have more options for PG and wade can play a little bit of the 2 but I like him at 1. This is a good pick up
Very good pick up for the Heat gives them a pure PG who can provide them with help off the bench,maybe the Heat would consider him starting because I tihnk Wade has said he prefers SG more then PG.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting og15:</div><div class="quote_post"><font size="1">lol I was just about to post this, I'm actually very happy about the signing, Damon Jones is a guy who can take care of the ball, run the break, and pass the ball well. His defense isn't the best, but he can hit the outside shot, and will be a good addition to the team. I'm hearing that Malone might be signing too, if so, the team is / could be: PG - Wade | Jones | Dooling SG - Jones | Wade | Wright SF - Butler | Wright | Beasley PF - Malone | Haslem | Allen</font> C - Shaq | Doleac | Who Cares <font size="1"> 1 of the 3 major needs has been filled, now a starting PF, and a starting SF are needed. PF - Malone is a very likely choice, hopefully he can be gotten SF - Jumain Jones, Byron Russell, Rodney White,</div></font> ROFL
I think this wasnt the most useful thing they couldve done, they already signed Keyon Dooling who is also a PG but a shoot-first PG, I dont know much about Damon Jones but I was happy when they signed Keyon knowing he'd get more minutes.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting EcinPC:</div><div class="quote_post">[/SIZE] ROFL </div> it's true, who really cares <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Ace2k2:</div><div class="quote_post">C- Shaq/Doleac PF-Malone(hopefully)/Udoinsi Haslem SF-Rasual Butler/Dorell Wright SG- Eddid Jones/Dwyane Wade PG-Dwyane Wade/Keyon DOoling/ Damon Jones</div> Damon Jones won't be behind Dooling in the depth cahrt <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I think this wasnt the most useful thing they couldve done, they already signed Keyon Dooling who is also a PG but a shoot-first PG, I dont know much about Damon Jones but I was happy when they signed Keyon knowing he'd get more minutes.</div> Actually it's probably the most useful move since we got Shaq, D.Jones will be the teams only real PG, and he's a very good passer who can run the break, is okay at the halfcourt set, and can shoot from the outside. Furthermore, as a starter last year, D.Jones averaged 7.6 assists in 28.3 minutes, give him someone on the wing, and he'll find them with a pass on the break, he worked so well with Desmond, Wade can be his new target practice on the break. Dooling is a guy just signed because he can shoot, didn't do well last year b/c of injuries, but he can, andh e's athletic, but his PG skills are very lacking.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting buckets_42:</div><div class="quote_post">I think this wasnt the most useful thing they couldve done, they already signed Keyon Dooling who is also a PG but a shoot-first PG, I dont know much about Damon Jones but I was happy when they signed Keyon knowing he'd get more minutes.</div>He's got better stats than Keyon Dooling and he's a proven starter, which gives the heat the option of putting D wade at the SG, jones goes to SF, and we just need to find a PF (and add depth to SF, SG, and PF)...it's in the heat's best interest to continue shoping around for a SF just incase they do want Wade starting at PG. Here's another article from ESPN. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting ESPN.com:</div><div class="quote_post">"We are extremely fortunate and pleased to be able to sign the top-rated guard in the playoffs to a contract," Heat president Pat Riley said. "We feel his playmaking abilities, shooting and experience will complement our team and help us accomplish our goals. It's another great signing for the Heat."</div>
Damon Jones is better suited as a backup. When he started for us, he wasn't as good as when he came off the bench. His D lacked as a starter when he had to play more minutes.
^^ It's true his defense was a little lackadisical as a starter, but his passing sky rocketed as a starter, like I said, he was averaging 7.8 assists in 28.3 minutes in comparison to 5.0 assists in 22.8 minutes off the bench. Also their wasn't that much of a change in his minutes, 6 mins a game, but his passing numbers defeinatley jumped.
Pat Riley was mostly impressed on how well he did in the playoffs against the Pistons, offensively. He's pretty good and will be competing against Keyon Dooling as Skip's replacement. And he will fill in for the gap that Alston left. ----------------------- Regular Season in 03-04 ----------------------- Damon Jones Regular Season 7ppg 5.8apg 2.1rpg .366 3PT% in 24.6mpg Rafer Alston Regular Season 10.2ppg 4.5apg 2.8rpg .371 3PT% in 31.5mpg ----------------------- Playoffs in 03-04 ----------------------- Damon Jones in 5 games against Detroit during the first round 10ppg 7.6apg 4rpg .476 3PT% in 28.8 mpg Rafer Alston in 7 against New Orleans during the first round 7.4ppg 1.4apg 2.1rpg 200 3PT% in 22.9mpg in 6 games against Indiana during the second round 6.5ppg 2.4apg 2.8rpg .273 3PT% in 22.5mpg Damon Jones' regular season performance was comparable to Rafer and his Playoff performance was even better as Rafer's regular season stats did not reflect in the playoffs. He's gonna make a good backup PG and his focus should be working on improving his defense. If Riley thought it was a good pickup, then I say it was too. Trust in Riley
I also think Damon Jones is better off the bench. He is a great spark off the bench to have! I think this is a great move for the Heat..thanx to heatfan83 for postin the stats.they speak for themselves.
Damon Jones is the prefect signing for the Heat, they need guys who can open up things for Shaq inside. DJ can certainly do that, he has come a long way since his spell in Detroit. He is a real journeyman, been to alot of different teams and It's good to see him get at least a two year deal. If I were him I would of tried to get at least a 4 year contract. The way he has traveled I doubt he will want to move again.
