DeQuan Jones fails to impress ESPN analyst

As part of his series on the NBA's rookies, ESPN Insider analyst David Thorpe wrote a column Thursday featuring the 22-year-olds from the 2012 Draft class. His opinion on Orlando Magic swingman DeQuan Jones, who went undrafted out of Miami, isn't high.

Thorpe lists Jones under a heading which reads "In danger of having a short NBA career," but it gets worse. "Jones might be the worst player on the worst team in the NBA," Thorpe writes. "Jones has yet to show any kind of skill on offense to build his game around and doesn't have upside on the defensive end."

In sum, Thorpe says, Jones may find himself out of the league once the season ends, and he may have to look to play overseas.

Jones is averaging 3.2 points and 1.8 rebounds per game, making 47 appearances and 13 starts for the Magic. His lack of a three-point shot, coupled with the infrequency with which he earns free-throw attempts, make his 42 percent mark from the field problematic.

One can question the fairness of Thorpe's assertion of Jones' defense; he was Orlando's best option against Carmelo Anthony in Orlando's loss to the New York Knicks on January 5th, limiting the All-Star combo forward to seven points on 3-of-10 shooting; Jones' teammates surrendered to Anthony 33 points on 11-of-19 shooting that night.

Jones' contract with Orlando expires at season's end. The Magic can make him an unrestricted free agent by extending him a qualifying offer.

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