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Dec 12, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets forward Terrence Jones (6) attempts to shoot the ball over Los Angeles Lakers center Roy Hibbert (17) during the second quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

Terrence Jones (UFA)

After promising sophomore and junior campaigns, Terrence Jones had a disastrous contract year with the Houston Rockets in 2015-16. The Kentucky product plunged from averaging 12.0 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 27.2 minutes per game over the two prior seasons to only 8.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 20.9 minutes per game this past year.

Jones started 71 of the 76 games in which he appeared as a sophomore, but trouble began brewing in 2014-15 when nerve inflammation in his left leg and a collapsed lung forced him to miss more than half the season. Just two games into this past season, he suffered a lacerated eyelid that caused him to miss five games, and he relinquished his starting gig to Clint Capela right around Thanksgiving.

According to ESPN.com’s Calvin Watkins, interim head coach J.B. Bickerstaff moved Jones to the bench because he preferred the size of Capela paired alongside Dwight Howard. He highlighted consistency as Jones’ biggest avenue for improvement.

“The talent is there with Terrence,” Bickerstaff told Watkins. “We need to get to a point where it’s there every night and we can depend on Terrence because he’s a big part of what we do.”

The health issues he encountered in recent years may chill his free-agent market, but the Rockets’ decision not to tender him a qualifying offer increases the odds of him finding a new contract quickly. His rebounding, shot-blocking and three-point shooting abilities would make him a welcome addition to any team’s reserve unit.

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