Tyus Jones explains why he signed with Magic: ‘Talent’s through the roof’

When the Magic saw their season come to an end in the first round of the NBA playoffs for a second consecutive year, team president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman made it clear in early May he wanted to improve Orlando‘s offense by adding proven shot-making and strong playmaking.

First, the Magic kicked off the summer by landing guard Desmond Bane in a blockbuster trade with the Grizzlies. Next, they selected guard Jase Richardson and forward Noah Penda in the first and second rounds, respectively, of the draft.

And when free agency opened up last week, the franchise wasted no time agreeing to terms with veteran guard Tyus Jones, who signed officially with Orlando on Sunday.

“Tyus has carved a niche for himself,” Weltman said Monday inside the AdventHealth Training Center. “More than that, he has a league-wide reputation of being just a stellar person in the locker room, off the court, in the community. … His leadership will have an impact on our team in addition to everything he’s going to bring to bear on the court, so we’re really excited to have him.”

Orlando Magic guard Jase Richardson smiles as he walks to a press conference at the AdventHealth Training Center in Orlando on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Orlando Magic players Tristan da Silva (23) and Jase Richardson (11) walk with Orlando Magic vice president Joel Glass before a press conference at the AdventHealth Training Center in Orlando on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando SentinelOrlando Magic forward Franz Wagner tosses the ball in front of head coach Jamahl Mosley during practice at the AdventHealth Training Center in Orlando on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Orlando Magic guard Tyus Jones smiles during a press conference at the AdventHealth Training Center in Orlando on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Orlando Magic player Noah Penda (93) talks to Orlando Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman before a press conference at the AdventHealth Training Center in Orlando on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Orlando Magic guard Jase Richardson (11) is pictured in front of Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley during practice at the AdventHealth Training Center in Orlando on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Orlando Magic player Tristan da Silva walks across the court before a press conference at the AdventHealth Training Center in Orlando on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley, left, talks to summer league head coach Ameer Bahhur during practice at the AdventHealth Training Center in Orlando on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando SentinelOrlando Magic guard Jase Richardson shoots during practice at the AdventHealth Training Center in Orlando on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Orlando Magic player Noah Penda (93) shoots during practice at the AdventHealth Training Center in Orlando on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Orlando Magic summer league head coach Ameer Bahhur laughs during a press conference at the AdventHealth Training Center in Orlando on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Orlando Magic players gather during practice at the AdventHealth Training Center in Orlando on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Orlando Magic guard Jase Richardson speaks during a press conference at the AdventHealth Training Center in Orlando on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Orlando Magic players gather during practice at the AdventHealth Training Center in Orlando on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Orlando Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman speaks during a press conference at the AdventHealth Training Center in Orlando on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Orlando Magic player Noah Penda is pictured before a press conference at the AdventHealth Training Center in Orlando on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Orlando Magic guard Jase Richardson (11) watches teammates during practice at the AdventHealth Training Center in Orlando on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Orlando Magic player Noah Penda speaks during a press conference at the AdventHealth Training Center in Orlando on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Orlando Magic guard Tyus Jones talks to reporters during a press conference at the AdventHealth Training Center in Orlando on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Orlando Magic guard Tyus Jones talks to reporters during a press conference at the AdventHealth Training Center in Orlando on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Orlando Magic guard Tyus Jones talks to reporters during a press conference at the AdventHealth Training Center in Orlando on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Orlando Magic player Tristan da Silva speaks during a press conference at the AdventHealth Training Center in Orlando on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Orlando Magic guard Tyus Jones, right, shares a moment with Orlando Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman before a press conference at the AdventHealth Training Center in Orlando on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner walks across the court during practice at the AdventHealth Training Center in Orlando on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Orlando Magic summer league head coach Ameer Bahhur speaks during a press conference at the AdventHealth Training Center in Orlando on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Show Caption1 of 26Orlando Magic guard Tyus Jones, left, shares a moment with Orlando Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman before a press conference at the AdventHealth Training Center in Orlando on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Expand

By adding Jones, the Magic are bringing in a 29-year-old guard who is entering his 11th year as a pro after becoming one of the more efficient players in the league.

During 81 games last season with the Suns, 58 of which he started, Jones averaged 10.2 points, 5.3 assists and 2.4 rebounds during 26.8 minutes per contest while shooting 41.4% from distance.

He ranked second in the NBA in assists-to-turnover ratio, 22nd in 3-point field goal percentage and was tied for 32nd in assists.

Jones explained why he wanted to join coach Jamahl Mosley‘s squad in free agency.

“Everything’s on the up-and-up,” he said. “They’re continuing to get better each and every day. Playing against them year in and year out, you see the camaraderie the team has, the togetherness the team has, you see how coach Mosley coaches them and how they play hard for him … You want to be a part of those types of situations, so I’m excited to be here.”

Although the Magic were intrigued by Jones, he could have signed elsewhere as a free agent. Weltman mentioned there was competition from other teams in need of a veteran guard similar to Jones.

“I’m just very happy Tyus chose us,” the Magic executive said. “He had a lot of teams chasing him. I think he saw the fit and he understands how he’s going to fit into what we’re building here, not just on the court but off it as well.”

Jones, who will wear No. 2 with Orlando, agrees about the fit. He feels he can add spacing, shooting and playmaking while aiming to make it easier for his new teammates.

Jones led the NBA in assists-to-turnover ratio a league-record six consecutive seasons from 2018-24. Since he was drafted in 2015, he has 116 career games with 5-plus assists and no turnovers, the most in the league during that span (second is Chris Paul with 80).

“I feel like I play the game the right way, trying to be unselfish, trying to set that tone, that brand of basketball — which they already play extremely unselfishly and together,” Jones said. “So, that should be a perfect match.”

By likely using a portion of the non-taxpayer mid-level exception to sign Jones to a 1-year, $7 million contract, the Magic are hard-capped at the first apron spending threshold — a financial constraint set at $195,945,000 that’s part of the league’s fairly new collective bargaining agreement.

With 14 players signed to standard contracts, Orlando sits right below that mark but is unable to sign a free agent to even a veteran minimum contract (unless the team made a trade to open salary space), likely leaving its final standard contract spot open this summer.

In the eyes of Jones, the Magic don’t need anything else to accomplish their goals on the court.

“The talent’s through the roof,” Jones said. “This team has everything you need to win a championship, honestly. For me, they’re making my job easy, not trying to overcomplicate it.

“All of the pieces are going to flow together and I’m excited to see it all come together.”

Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com

Tyus Jones explains why he signed with Magic: ‘Talent’s through the roof’

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