‘How Could I Sign With a Rival?’ — Nuggets Forward Spencer Jones Breaks Silence on Signing Thunder’s $12 Million Offer Sheet
· Yahoo Sports
Spencer Jones’ free agency was expected to be a smooth one until the Oklahoma City Thunder offered the former undrafted forward a two-year, $12 million contract. Jones agreed to the deal on Saturday, forcing the Denver Nuggets, who have limited salary-cap flexibility, into even tougher constraints by matching the offer.
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On Monday, the 6-foot-7 forward shed light on his decision on his LinkedIn page.
Spencer Jones Gets Candid on Signing $12 Million Thunder Contract Amid Nuggets’ Financial Difficulties
Jones received a $2.65 million qualifying offer from the Nuggets last month. The Thunder, one of the Mile High City team’s biggest rivals, couldn’t resist trying to pry Jones away by giving him a significantly more lucrative contract.
The Nuggets were in a tight spot once Jones signed the deal. They could let him go to Oklahoma City for nothing in return or hope a replacement under the veteran’s minimum can take his spot. The third option, matching the Thunder’s offer, would be punishing.
The Nuggets chose to retain him, a move that pushed their luxury tax penalty from $36 million to $68 million. Denver also became the only team in the NBA to enter the punitive second apron.
On Monday, Jones explained why he did what he did.
“Yes, I signed an offer sheet with Oklahoma City, and yes, Denver matched it. I know some people are confused, and some fans are even upset. How could I sign with a rival? I get it. But I also need people to understand something.
“This is a business. Front offices treat it that way every day, and players have to do the same,” Jones wrote.
“I went into free agency with clear priorities: a team that fits my skillset, a championship culture, and an organization I believe in. Both Denver and OKC checked those boxes. Either way, I was landing somewhere that made sense.”
“The offer sheet was a business decision. It ensured I ended up in the right situation w/ what I felt was the right compensation regardless of what happened next.”
Jones started to find stability in February when the Nuggets turned his two-way deal into a standard contract. After averaging 5.5 points on 50.4% shooting, including 39.6% from deep, and 3.3 rebounds per game, Denver showed interest in keeping him.
The 25-year-old’s decision to sign the Thunder offer made the Nuggets’ financial situation difficult in and of itself. Putting it in the context of Peyton Watson’s free agency, the implications of that move will be felt.
Denver is staring at a $112 million tax penalty, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, if Watson accepts his $6.5 million qualifying offer. Moving on from Watson in a sign-and-trade deal has also become even more complicated.
Still, Jones did what was best for him. He even etched his name into the record books for his decision.
“And along the way, I made a little history. The largest fully guaranteed offer sheet ever signed by an undrafted player converted from a two-way contract. From a two-way with no safety net to this. I don’t take that lightly.”
Amid the questions and criticism, Jones is ready to prove the Nuggets made the right move by keeping him.