Pacific Notes: Jones, Suns, Kaminsky, Kawhi, Porter, Lakers

Although he had made 94 starts in eight NBA seasons prior to 2023-24, that was the case last season Tyus Jones‘ initially as a full-time player in this role – he started all 66 games he played for the Wizards. This sample size is good enough for new ones Suns Head coach Mike Budenholzerwho tells NBA.com’s Steve Aschburner that Jones has “established himself as a great starting point guard in our league” and that the veteran should be inserted into Phoenix’s starting lineup at the start of the 2024-25 season.

“If you put him out there Kevin (Durant), Brad (Beal)Book (Devin Booker) and Nurk (Yusuf Nurkic), we feel like we have a strong starting lineup,” said Budenholzer, confirming what his first starting group will look like. “And a really strong bench behind it.

“Tyus can help us play faster. He’s great at forward kicking, he’s great at involving teammates in transition. But then also in the half field. He’s always been a guy with lots of assists and few turnovers. He can organize us. Everyone talks about how much talent we have. Hopefully he can put them in a position to do their best.”

Here’s more from the Pacific:

• Frank Kaminsky‘s new non-guaranteed deal with the Suns gives him no assurances about the regular season, but he’s still excited to be back with the organization after working out at the team’s practice facility over the past few weeks, he tells PHNX Sports’ Gerald Bourguet. “I love it here” said the experienced big man. “I can’t describe it any other way. There’s just such a level of love and security that I feel living here and being here. I’ve built a nice community here, have great friends – everything is set up well for me here. And that’s why when the camp deal was talked about, that’s what I wanted, just because I love being here.”
• This week’s revelation that Kawhi Leonard undergone further knee surgery in the offseason and will be limited in training camp is ominous for him Hair clippersbut president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank tried to downplay concerns about the star striker’s status, writes Anthony De Leon of the Los Angeles Times. “It’s almost gone” Frank said about the swelling in Leonard’s knee. “He wants to participate in everything in training camp, but we’re going to keep him away from practice work and really focus on strengthening.” The goal, Frank added, is “To get him 100% so he can have a great season, not just this year but for years to come.”
• New Hair clippers guard Kevin Porter Jr. will be allowed to participate in team activities during training camp as the NBA continues to investigate the domestic incident from last September, tweets Law Murray of The Athletic. Porter agreed to a plea deal in January on a misdemeanor third-degree assault charge, but was not in the NBA at the time and could still face a suspension from the league.
• Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus reads between the lines Rob Pelinka‘s and JJ Redick‘s comments to reporters in Lakers‘ Wednesday’s pre-camp press conference that shared 10 observations about what the team’s director of basketball operations and the new head coach had to say.