Mavericks sign dunk champion to psych out Nuggets

Derrick Jones Jr. is a journeyman forward who’s playing for his fifth team. You've heard of a three-and-D player? Jones is a Three-D player: Defense, Dunks and Dwyane Wade. He won the 2020 Slam Dunk Contest in controversial fashion when judge Wade allegedly conspired to throw the contest to his former Heat teammate.

The Nuggets' Gordon was deeply affected by losing the contest. He changed his uniform number from No. 00 to No. 50 (a perfect dunk contest score) and recorded a rap song about it called "9 Out Of 10."

Here's a sample lyric:

"Big chillin', Paint me as a villain, I jumped over the biggest dude in the building."

While Jones could help the Mavericks turn around their disappointing team defense, he's probably only their third-string power forward or fourth-string center at this point. While the 6-foot-5 Jones can block shots like a center, he also shoots outside shots like a center.

No, the real reason Dallas made this signing is pure psychological warfare. They know Denver is the team to beat, and they know Gordon was their third-best player during the playoff run. And they know Gordon was so upset by losing to Jones that he made a sad rap song and an even sadder video, where he sadly drinks red wine in the dark.

The Mavericks have a talent deficit compared to the Nuggets, but making Aaron Gordon uncomfortable might tip the scales. Jones must want a rematch with Gordon as well, since he took the veteran minimum. Or his agent just greatly overestimated his value when Jones declined his $3.3 million player option.

On the court, this signing won't mean much. But if the Mavericks face the Nuggets in the playoffs, this could be a huge move psychologically.