First-rounder Dominique Jones has been waived, the Dallas Mavericks announced Saturday afternoon.
Jones, a combo guard selected with the 25th pick in the 2010 draft, never made a significant impact for the Mavs. He averaged 3.1 points, 1.8 assists and 1.4 rebounds in 80 games, including four starts.
Sources told ESPN.com's Marc Stein that patience with Jones had been dwindling for some time. When the Mavs wanted to send Jones back to the D-League for another assignment with the Texas Legends in Frisco, sources said that Jones balked, prompting the team to let him go Saturday.
The reality is that Jones likely would have been the player cut by Dallas had it made a trade before the Feb. 21 trade deadline that required opening up a roster spot.
In October, the Mavs opted not to pick up the team option for next season in Jones’ rookie contract, making it clear that he didn’t fit in the franchise’s future plans.
Before being released, Jones was one of only four players remaining on the Mavs’ roster from the 2010-11 title team. Like Rodrigue Beaubois, Jones didn’t play a second in that postseason, but he did commemorate the championship by getting a large tattoo of the Larry O’Brien Trophy on his neck.
The Mavs’ roster stands at 14 players after Jones’ release.
