Former Duke basketball guard Tyus Jones Rob Kinnan-Imagn Images

Three Duke Basketball One-And-Dones Appear in Projected Magic Rotation

Originally posted on Duke Blue Devils on SI
By Matt Giles | Last updated Jul 1, 2025 8:38 AM ET

Wendell Carter Jr. and Paolo Banchero have been teammates ever since the Orlando Magic drafted the latter No. 1 overall at the 2022 NBA Draft. Now, that pair of Duke basketball products, each a full-time starter in the frontcourt, is set to play alongside a third Orlando Blue Devil in 2015 national champion and one-and-done guard Tyus Jones.

On Monday evening, ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Jones, a free agent this summer following stints with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Memphis Grizzlies, Washington Wizards, and Phoenix Suns, has agreed to a one-year, $7 million contract with the Magic.

As NBA expert Evan Sidery noted in the following social media post, Jones is likely to be one of the first backcourt talents off the bench for the Magic next season, helping to solidify Orlando as a "strong East contender."

The Magic’s projected rotation:

Starters: Jalen Suggs, Desmond Bane, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr.

Second Unit: Tyus Jones, Jase Richardson, Anthony Black, Tristan Da Silva, Jonathan Isaac, Goga Bitadze

Orlando is looking the part of a strong East contender. pic.twitter.com/EYIiFbs7pz
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) July 1, 2025

Last season, Jones' lone campaign in Phoenix, the 29-year-old Minnesota native appeared in 81 regular season games. He averaged 10.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and only 1.1 turnovers per outing, leading the league in assist-to-turnover ratio for a sixth straight year.

This article first appeared on Duke Blue Devils on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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