MINNEAPOLIS — Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki hopes point guard Dominique Jones won’t be in the unemployment line long.
Tired of his inconsistent play and other off-the-court indiscretions, the Mavs waived Jones on Saturday.“I like Dominique, he was my man,” Nowitzki said. “I think he’s got an NBA body, he’s got the NBA strength.“Hopefully he’ll be able to find a job next year and he’ll be able to play.”The Mavs will replace Jones with point guard Chris Wright, who averaged 15.5 points and seven assists in 38 games this season for the Iowa Energy of the NBA Development League. Wright, who played in last month’s D-League All-Star game, may be on the roster in time to suit up for Tuesday’s game in Milwaukee.Jones was a first-round pick — the 25th overall — of the 2010 NBA Draft out of South Florida. But he never could match, on the court, the brash and cocky things that came out of his mouth.“We let him go,” coach Rick Carlisle said. “We just thought it was time to make that move and look at some other guys. It was time to move on.”Jones, 24, was in a free-fall with the Mavs for some time. The three-year veteran played just five games — for a total of 29 minutes —since Jan. 1, and sat out the other 25 because of a coach’s decision.A source said the Mavs wanted to send Jones to play for the Texas Legends of the D-League so he could polish his game, but Jones refused. Another source said: “This gives Dominique the opportunity to get the playing time he believes he deserves with another team.”In 29 games with the Mavs this season, Jones averaged 11.7 minutes, four points and 2.9 assists and shot 36.7 percent from the floor and 11.1 percent from 3-point territory. In 80 career games for Dallas, Jones averaged only 3.1 points and 1.8 assists in 9.3 minutes. He shot 36.6 percent from the field and 0.95 percent from 3-point territory. “He never really got a real shot at it,”' Nowitzki said. “I like his athleticism, I like what he brought, it just wasn’t a good situation to be in.“I obviously wish him luck for the future. I was always cool with D-Jones and I wish him luck.”Besides Nowitzki, Shawn Marion and Rodrigue Beaubois are the only other players with the Mavs who were members of the 2011 NBA championship team.Mavs reserves rollFlexing their muscles and displaying their overall importance, the Mavs’ bench outplayed their Minnesota Timberwolves’ counterparts Sunday night at the Target Center.As the Mavs drilled the Timberwolves 100-77, their bench was impressive. Overall, the Mavs received 58 points, 34 rebounds, 14 assists and three steals from their bench. The Timberwolves collected just 22 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and no steals from their reserves.“Fifty-something points off the bench, that’s what we have to do,” said reserve center Elton Brand, who contributed 10 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. “We have to wear them down and we have to bring energy.“Our starters set the pace and once we got that lead we don’t want to look back.”Marion out againForward Shawn Marion is still listed as day-to-day after missing his second straight game Sunday with a left calf contusion.“It’s a hit for us,” Rick Carlisle said. “Injuries are part of every day life in this league and all of us got to cope with it.“So we’re going to have to get it done without him.”Praising BareaOn J.J. Barea, the former Mavs and current Timberwolves point guard, Rick Carlisle said: “He’s an attacker, he’s a fighter. None of that is going to change.”Barea scored 16 points against the Mavs in defeat Sunday.
Mavericks roll over Minnesota, draw closer in playoff race
Get behind the headlines in our Mavs' blog: Full-Court Press
Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
