The Clippers’ rough start has already pushed them into the kind of territory where every small move matters, and Derrick Jones Jr. looks like the sort of player who could fit that reality. Los Angeles is 1-5, its offseason was a disaster, and the league stripped away five first-round picks for circumventing the salary cap rules for Kawhi Leonard. That leaves the franchise with a long climb ahead and very little room to maneuver.
Jones has been one of the few bright spots. He left Sunday’s game against the Golden State Warriors and is now day-to-day with right knee soreness, but before that he was off to a career-best run with the Clippers. He has averaged 11.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 53/52/67.
That kind of efficiency is unlikely to hold all season, but the bigger picture still matters. Jones has been around 36 percent from three over his last two seasons with the Clippers, and the combination of improved shooting, elite athleticism, and versatile defense makes him a useful bench piece for a team that needs wing help.
Portland fits that description. The Blazers could use another option on the perimeter, especially after previously being mentioned as a team that could explore a deal for either Trey Murphy III or Herb Jones from the New Orleans Pelicans.
There’s also a familiar connection here. Derrick Jones Jr. already spent one season in Portland during the 2020-21 campaign, when the Blazers went 42-30, finished sixth in the Western Conference, and were bounced in the first round by the Denver Nuggets.
Damian Lillard is back with a Blazers roster that looks better positioned for a deeper playoff push in his second stint, but the wing rotation still needs work. Outside of Deni Avdija, Toumani Camara, and a quietly emerging Sidy Cissoko, the depth chart is thin.
A reunion with Jones could make sense for both sides. Portland would get a proven bench wing who can help right away, while the Clippers would at least have a chance to chip away at the damage from this offseason by making a move on the margins.
In Other News...
Blazers Rotation Battle Is Already Getting Hard To Ignore
The Trail Blazers kept rolling with a 112-90 win over the Jazz, their fourth victory in five games, and the night offered another snapshot of how crowded this rotation picture has become. Deni Avdija led Portland in scoring for the fourth straight game, Toumani Camara kept spacing the floor with his 3-point touch, and Jrue Holiday gave the second unit a lift in a performance that stood out as the team continues to sort out its best combinations.
Not every piece fit as cleanly. Donovan Clingan ran into foul trouble, while Vit Krejci had a rough shooting night, reminders that the Blazers are still working through the details even as the results improve. With Ja Morant sidelined by a Grade 2 hamstring strain, Portlands recent stretch has only sharpened the competition for minutes, and the way this group balances production, defense and lineup fit is becoming harder to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Scoot Henderson Trade Talk Just Got Real For The Blazers
The Hornets early-season shakeup has already put the trade market on alert, and it could have ripple effects for Portland. Charlottes move to send LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to Minnesota for Naz Reid and multiple draft picks left the roster in a very different place, and with a 3-4 record, the Hornets may not be done dealing before the February deadline.
For the Trail Blazers, the name to watch is Scoot Henderson. Portland could emerge as a potential trade partner if Charlotte decides to move Reid, with the idea of Henderson heading the other way in a deal that would address needs for both sides. Nothing is imminent, but the possibility alone is enough to make this one worth tracking as the deadline picture starts to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Blazers Defense Faces Its Toughest Early Test In Denver
The Trail Blazers head into Denver for the first of four meetings in the season series, and the matchup arrives with one of the leagues more interesting early contrasts. Portland has leaned on a defense that has been especially sharp at limiting second-chance opportunities, while the Nuggets have built a reputation for punishing teams when possessions extend and the ball stays alive around the rim.
Cleaning The Glass numbers point to a clash of strengths that could shape the tone of the series right away, with Portland trying to keep Denver from turning missed shots into easy extra points. The historical backdrop only adds to the intrigue, since these teams know each other well and both enter this stretch with current-season form that makes every possession feel a little more important than usual. [Read more 🡒]