New York Knicks Secure Dillon Jones: A Smart Poach from Trail Blazers

The New York Knicks made a quiet move on Tuesday that didn’t dominate headlines, but fits neatly into the franchise’s ongoing approach of mining overlooked talent and exploiting in-season opportunities within the NBA’s developmental pipeline. New York signed Dillon Jones to a two-way contract after prying him away from the Portland Trail Blazers‘ G League affiliate, the Rip City Remix. A former first-round pick, Jones has been one of the most productive and versatile guards in the G League this season. With his contract situation leaving him exposed, the Knicks moved decisively to secure him without having to give up any compensation. New York Knicks Add Versatile Guard on Two-Way Deal Through 24 games with the Remix, Jones averaged 16.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.5 assists, and 1.8 steals per game, shooting 42.8% from the field and 33.6% from three-point range. The 6-foot-5 guard is unlikely to factor into New York’s immediate rotation, but he fills the two-way slot vacated by Tosan Evbuomwan, who was recently waived and has since joined the Boston Celtics’ G League affiliate, the Maine Celtics. Beyond the roster mechanics, the signing reflects the Knicks’ continued willingness to scour the developmental ranks for undervalued production. Jones ranks fifth in the G League with 181 assists and sits 15th in steals with 45. His 193 total rebounds are the highest among all point guards in the league. His season included three triple-doubles, highlighted by a 26-point, 12-rebound, 10-assist performance against the San Diego Clippers in early December. He also logged seven games with double-digit rebounds and eight with double-digit assists, showing his ability to impact games across multiple areas. Despite that production, Jones remained on a standard G League contract and wasn’t locked into an NBA or two-way deal by Portland, allowing New York to step in and secure him outright. Knicks Exploit G League Market Inefficiencies Moves like this have become increasingly common around the league, as teams look to capitalise on unsecured G League contracts. Earlier this month, the Houston Rockets signed the G League’s top scorer Tristen Newton to a two-way deal from the Minnesota Timberwolves affiliate, the Iowa Wolves. While scoring alone does not always translate to the NBA, teams tend to value players who combine offensive versatility with defensive effort and adaptability. Jones checks many of those boxes, offering playmaking, ball pressure, and a willingness to contribute without monopolising possessions. His size at the guard position, rebounding instincts, and ability to create second-chance opportunities could prove useful for a Knicks team currently in a slump, having lost four straight games by double digits and dropped eight of its last 10. Jones was originally selected by the Washington Wizards with the 26th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft before being moved to the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he won a championship in 2025. In 54 NBA games as a rookie, he averaged 2.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 10.2 minutes per game. Under his two-way deal, the 24-year-old will split time between New York and the Westchester Knicks, giving the organisation a closer look at whether his G League production can translate at the NBA level. From the Knicks’ perspective, the move carries little risk. If Jones’ momentum continues, New York gains a cost-controlled contributor with upside. If it doesn’t, the franchise retains flexibility while continuing to search for value on the margins.