A free agent former Dallas Mavericks power forward/center is auditioning for an Eastern Conference hopeful.
It makes sense that Dallas itself isn’t interested in bringing the big man back, as the Mavericks currently boast a glut (perhaps a surplus) of frontcourt talent already.
Sources inform longtime NBA insider Chris Haynes that Kai Jones is putting in a workout for the Miami Heat on Monday.
Free agent F/C Kai Jones is working out for the Miami Heat today, league sources tell me. The 2021 first-rounder remains a young, athletic prospect. pic.twitter.com/SrLM8s4KpT
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) August 11, 2025
The 6-foot-11 Texas product, still just 24, has been well traveled since first entering the league in 2021.
Jones spent his first two pro seasons with the Charlotte Hornets, suited up for the Philadelphia 76ers’ NBAGL affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats in 2023-24, and finally split his 2024-25 season with the L.A. Clippers and Mavericks.
Jones was a late two-way signing for an injury-depleted Dallas squad, and enjoyed his most outsized role yet on an NBA squad. Across 12 contests (six starts), Jones averaged 11.4 points on .836/.333/.700 shooting splits, 6.6 boards, 1.3 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.8 blocks in 21.7 minutes per.
Dallas is plenty loaded in the frontcourt, with big money committed to All-Star Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford, PJ Washington, and Dwight Powell, plus key recent lottery picks Cooper Flagg and Dereck Lively II clearly worthy of major minutes. Flagg, like Naji Marshall, could also log significant run at the small forward spot.
Miami, meanwhile, could certainly use some high-upside young center talent to back up newly-minted starting five Kel’el Ware, whose emergence prompted head coach Erik Spoelstra to shift former All-Star center Bam Adebayo to a starting power forward role, despite his lack of jump shooting acumen.
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