Derrick Jones Jr. leaves Heat, signs with Portland

Shams Charania reported late Wednesday that former Miami Heat forward Derrick Jones Jr. agreed to a two-year, $19 million deal with the Portland Trail Blazers.

This signing wasn’t a surprise. Miami’s midseason trade for Jae Crowder and Andre Iguodala relegated Jones to a fringe rotation player. And as the Heat got deeper in the playoffs, Erik Spoelstra was more willing to play Solomon Hill, who was considered the throw-in in the February trade, than Jones.

While with the Heat, Jones represented a good developmental story with the team. Undrafted after one season at UNLV, Jones signed a two-way contract with Miami during the 2017-18 season following a brief stint with the Phoenix Suns. Through his time with the Sioux Falls Skyforce and the Heat, the coaching staff helped mold him into a rangy defensive player.

Jones’ departure leaves the door open for KZ Okpala, Miami’s 2019 second-round pick, to have more playing time.

Crowder, who started as the Heat’s power forward through their playoff run, remains unsigned.