Blazers Forward Jones Jr. Picks up Player Option

Trail Blazers forward Derrick Jones Jr. has picked up the player option on his contract for the 2021-22 regular season. Jones’ decision does not come as a surprise. He is now set to earn $9.7 million after falling out of the Portland’s rotation in the second half of the season.

The Athletic’s Shams Charania delivered the news on Monday.

Portland Trail Blazers forward Derrick Jones Jr. will pick up his $9.7 million player option for the 2021-22 season, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

Fresh off a stint with the Heat, Jones joined the Blazers on a free-agent deal in the 2020 offseason. In Portland, Jones appeared in 58 regular season games (43 starts). In those outings, he averaged 6.8 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. In the Blazers’ six-game series against the Nuggets, Jones appeared in two games and logged a combined 10 minutes.

Jones will enter the 2021-22 season at 24 years old.