James Jones

If a person rubbed his eyes just a bit, it could appear that James Jones never left Miami. The former Hurricane and Heat player moved north with LeBron James and put up virtually the same numbers as he did with the two-time champions in Miami. He appeared in 57 games for 12 minutes per game. He scored 4.4 points mainly on 1.1 three-pointers with conversion rates of 37 percent from the field and 85 percent from the line. In March, Jones had a higher percentage on three-pointers (40 percent) than on shots from within the arc (33 percent). He added 1.1 rebounds, 0.4 assists, 0.2 steals, and 0.1 blocks. Despite an expanded role in the playoffs (16 minutes) due to injuries to Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving, Jones continued to score 4.4 points. He did pop for a season-high 17 points in the Game 2 win against Chicago in the conference finals. The 6-8 Jones can offer some defensive resistance on the perimeter, but his main role is to stretch the floor for limited minutes. Over his 12-year career, Jones has fired up more three-pointers than two-pointers, and that should continue in his second season with the Cavaliers.

James Jones has spent the last four seasons playing with LeBron James. When his teammate decided to return home to Cleveland, Jones jumped at the chance to join him on the Cavaliers' roster. Jones had spent the last six seasons with the Heat and actually attended the University of Miami, so it's no small sacrifice for the 11-year NBA veteran to leave home. His role won't change greatly with his new team. Over his career, the 6-8 small forward has taken nearly two-thirds of his field goals from three-point territory. In 2013-14, he averaged 4.9 points, 1.4 three-pointers, 1.2 rebounds, and 0.5 assists in 12 minutes per game. Jones hit a career-high 52 percent of his three-pointers (to go along with 46 percent of his field goals and 64 percent of his free throws). When Jones is on the court for the Cavaliers, he should be stationed around the three-point line, waiting for opposing defenses to try to contain James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love. If a defender takes a step or two in the wrong direction, Jones will be open for a long-ranged jumper. His relative lack of playing time will make his fantasy value limited, but he could add a few three-pointers for a fantasy owner in need of help from the perimeter.

Jones, a player who was a key contributor off the bench in 2010-11, took a backseat to just about everyone on the roster in 2012-13. He played in 38 games last season, averaging only six minutes per game. Jones is known for his shooting range but was buried in a sharpshooting bench role behind Allen, Battier and Miller. With Miller out of the picture, Jones could see a bump up in minutes, though it is still crowded at small forward, and his contributions will likely be minimal.

Yet another three-point specialist. The additions of Lewis and Allen will push him even lower on the depth chart.

Jones will return to the Heat this season for his 4th-straight year with the team. Jones posted some fairly impressive numbers last season while filling in for Miller, but the addition of Battier could push him back into a specialist’s role.

Jones is a similar player to Mike Miller – he’s got good size, but his best weapon is the three (just under 40 percent from long range for his career). He’ll have a limited role as a three-point specialist.

Looking at the construction of the Heat's starting lineup, someone like Jones, who can stretch defenses, could be a nice fit at small forward. He took a while to recover from a training-camp wrist injury and struggled to adjust to a wrist brace, until late in the season when he shed the brace and hit 45 percent of his 3-point attempts in April and the playoffs (36 threes made in 15 games). He was coach Erik Spoelstra's choice at the three in the playoffs and could be a productive fantasy player as a three-point specialist, taking advantage of opponents' attention on Dwyane Wade. Having said that, the desire to get Michael Beasley on the floor more, and better defenders at the three (Yakhouba Diawara), means Jones is unlikely to average more than 20 minutes a game.

Signed as a free agent in the off-season from the Trailblazers, Jones joins a crowded Miami front court. James can shoot the ball from behind the arc with a career .399 three point percentage and from the line with a career .865 free throw percentage. On this team he's probably nothing more than a role player.

Jones comes in to Portland from Phoenix to provide some outside shooting off the bench. He figures to be in the rotation at small forward but will probably be played sparingly. No more than his career averages of 6.7 points and 1.2 threes a game should be expected.

Playing 20.3 minutes per game mostly off the bench, Jones put up decent numbers (9.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.5 treys per game), but was streaky enough to keep fantasy owners frustrated. With a more crowded situation at forward, Jones' minutes could dip, though he should still be one of the first players off the bench.

Jones could be a player on the way up. While he wasn't exactly an offensive force last season, scoring five points in 17.7 minutes per game, he demonstrated one quality that the Suns love: he hit 39.6% of his three-point shots. With Quentin Richardson and Joe Johnson gone from the team, Jones may be called upon to pick up some of the slack and fire away from behind the arc. His playing time will be limited at the outset, but if he can prove to be a solid defender and rebounder and still stick his threes, he should be given more chances as the season wears on.

The Pacers' second-round (and only) draft pick this season, Jones is a longshot to make the team. The Pacers have a wealth of players who slot in the shooting guard and small forward spots, albeit few who fit into defined roles. At best, Jones projects as an 11th or 12th man destined to spend much of the year on Injured Reserve, nursing a phantom injury while trying to get up to speed on the professional game in practice.