Chicago Bulls Roster: Solomon Jones Signed!
By Ronald Agers
Nov 20, 2013; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic head coach Jacque Vaughn talks with power forward Solomon Jones (22) against the Miami Heat during the first quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Well Pippen Peoples, we are almost to the start of training camp. Isn’t this exciting? I know it’s exciting for me, I don’t have to write up anymore speculation articles trying to figure out who the Chicago Bulls are going to sign next. With training camp, the NBA teams start loading up on players that nine times out of ten won’t even see opening night. But who cares, it’s actual news right?
Well the Chicago Bulls started their ball rolling on Friday signing veteran center Solomon Jones.
Okay Pippen Peoples, all together now…WHO?
Solomon Jones is an eight year journeyman of the NBA. He’s another example of the phrase. “You just can’t coach seven feet” (even though he’s 6’10.) In 281 games, Jones has averaged three points and a shade over two rebounds per game for his career.
Okay Pippen Peoples, all together now…WHY?
The signing was announced by Solomon Jones’s agency, Priority Sports.
"Priority Sports@Priority SportsCongrats to Solomon Jones on signing with the @chicagobulls! Best of luck – we know you’ll do great!2:14 PM – 26 Sep 2014"
Oh really? Solomon Jones appeared in 11 games last season for the Orlando Magic last season before he was waived in January of 2014. Jones averaged 1.3 points and 1.5 rebounds while shooting 35.3% from the floor while missing half of his free throws at 50%. With numbers like these, Jones is going to need all the luck he can get, and a prayer.
This is the second former Orlando Magic player that the Chicago Bulls have signed in the past couple of weeks. The other player that was signed was E’Twaun Moore.
The funny coincidence is that these two players are from the same sports agency, being Priority Sports and will probably have the same use for the Bulls in training camp. They will be warm bodies that will rest the stars until the end of the month in October and then will be shown the door. I have a question Pippen Peoples.
What’s up with these signings?
Was Jones brought in so E’Twaun Moore could have a roommate? Maybe the Bulls thought that Moore needed someone to remind him of Orlando.
Maybe this was part of the deal for the Magic to take Anthony Randolph’s contract in a trade earlier this summer.
For whatever reason, I wasn’t too thrilled with the E’Twaun Moore signing even though I know why he was the perfect candidate for the Chicago Bulls roster…
He’s as cheap as store brand products.
I think even less of this signing even though it’s for the same reason.
That has to be the case for Solomon Jones with the stats that he brought to the table from an Orlando Magic team that stunk up the NBA on most nights.
Check out what Shams Charania had to say on Twitter…
"Shams Charania@ShamsCharaniaThe Chicago Bulls have signed free agent center Solomon Jones to a one year, veteran-minimum deal, league source tells RealGM.2:18 PM – 26 Sep 2014"
I’ll bet that this deal is non guaranteed. The Chicago Bulls don’t need another big man for this roster. The only reason this dude is in Chicago is to be a fill in while Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol rest up for the regular season.
Solomon Jones was drafted in the second round of the 2006 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks. Then his journeyman tour around the NBA includes stops in Indiana for two years, after that he spent the 2011-12 season with the New Orleans Pelicans and the Los Angeles Clippers. Finally he spent time with the New York Knicks in the 2012-13 season.
What do I think about Solomon Jones? After he couldn’t even last a full season with the Orlando Magic last year, he spent the rest of the year with the Erie BayHawks of the NBA D-League. With the fact he is a tweener with not enough size to be effective in the NBA, it’s hard to see how Jones can make a roster with Joakim Noah, Pau Gasol, Taj Gibson, Nikola Mirotic and Nazr Mohammed. It won’t happen.
It will be interesting to see if this signing is linked to the recovery of Joakim Noah’s offseason knee surgery. Everyone is watching the knees of Derrick Rose, it’s easy to forget that Joakim Noah had offseason surgery after the playoffs last season. As we all know, the Bulls won’t say word on anything that concerns the roster until it’s absolutely necessary. Just pay attention for the next few weeks.
Well Pippen Peoples, training camp is here. The staff of Pippen Ain’t Easy is ready for a long season of in depth analysis and opinions on all things Chicago Bulls. Keep it locked to Pippen Ain’t Easy, your best choice for Chicago Bulls news, previews and reviews. Leave your comment below and let your voices be heard. We’re starting a long journey that starts with training camp. Make Pippen Ain’t Easy your co-pilot through this season.
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