The Chicago Bulls reached an agreement Monday to re-sign point guard Tre Jones, bringing back a member of the 2024-25 roster on the first night of free agency.
Jones, 25, will return on a three-year, $24 million contract — an affordable option for the Bulls, who are trying to stay financially nimble as they prioritize young players while rebuilding the roster.
After joining the Bulls from the San Antonio Spurs in February in the three-team trade-deadline deal that sent Zach LaVine to the Sacramento Kings, Jones quickly made a strong impression on the coaching staff and front office. He averaged 11.5 points and 4.9 assists while shooting 50% from 3-point range in 18 games for the Bulls, half of them starts.
Coach Billy Donovan often praised Jones as a “rare” true point guard who commanded respect on and off the court. After the Bulls reached a deal Saturday to trade Lonzo Ball to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Jones will fill a crucial playmaking role in helping to marshal the offense.
The Spurs drafted Jones out of Duke in the second round (No. 41) in 2020, and he played his first 4½ seasons in San Antonio before the midseason trade. He came off the bench his first two seasons, then stepped into a starting role in 2022-23.
But the Spurs moved away from Jones last season, and he played only 450 minutes in 28 games before the trade. He has averaged 8.4 points and 4.7 assists over his career.
The Bulls now have added four players this summer: Jones, draftees Noa Essengue and Lachlan Olbrich and Isaac Okoro, acquired in the Ball trade. Although much of the 2024-25 roster is expected to return, the Bulls remain open to moving multiple players, including Nikola Vučević and Patrick Williams.
