Magic to add to depth after signing veteran to a one-year deal

The Magic have agreed to a one-year, $7M deal with free agent point guard Tyus Jones, Shams Charania reports for ESPN (Twitter link). Yossi Gozlan of the Third Apron notes that if the team intends to stay under the luxury tax, it will need to shed salary elsewhere.

Bobby Marks adds that the contract uses part of Orlando’s Non-Tax Mid-Level Exception, while hard-capping the Magic at the first apron.

Jones played last season for the Suns, averaging 10.2 points and 5.3 assists while shooting 41.4% from three and 89.5% from the free throw line. He spent the season splitting time between starting and coming off the bench for the team as it searched for answers with an ill-balanced roster.

In the Magic, Jones joins a rapidly improving team as the team’s backup point guard, bringing stability and depth to the guard rotation. He also joins former teammate Desmond Bane, with whom he played on the Grizzlies for three seasons, during which time Memphis became a Western Conference regular-season powerhouse.

Jones also provides injury insurance for Jalen Suggs, who has played 53 games or fewer in three of his four seasons. A high-level shooter and decision-maker, Jones can slot into the starting lineup when needed and work as an off-ball player alongside star ball-handlers Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.