Magic guarantee DeQuan Jones' salary for balance of season

The Orlando Magic did not waive swingman DeQuan Jones by Monday's deadline, and have thus guaranteed the rookie's contract for the remainder of the season.

The decision to keep Jones does not come as a surprise, given that he has cracked coach Jacque Vaughn's starting lineup, where he's averaging 5.8 points and 2.8 rebounds in 19.3 minutes while providing energetic, physical perimeter defense. In Orlando's loss to the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, Jones set career-highs with 11 points and 26 minutes.

In four years at Miami (Florida), Jones averaged 4.6 points and 2.4 rebounds in 14.5 minutes. He went undrafted, but earned an invitation to join the Magic's summer-league squad and then another one to training camp, where he beat Quentin Richardson for the team's final roster spot.

As an undrafted rookie, Jones is earning the league's minimum salary. He will become an unrestricted free agent in July.

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