Derrick Jones Jr.

Sources tell The Athletic and Stadium that free-agent F Derrick Jones has agreed to a two-year contract worth $19M with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Fantasy Impact

Jones is expected to join a Blazers roster that is already stocked at the forward position with Carmelo Anthony, Rodney Hood, and the newly acquired Robert Covington. He'll face competition for playing time but will offer the Blazers another lengthy and athletic player that can potentially fill the void left by Mario Hezonja. Jones can be ignored for fantasy purposes.

Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters that Derrick Jones Jr. participated in the teams walk-through portion of practice on Monday and his status for Tuesday's playoff game against the Pacers is up in the air.

Fantasy Impact

Although he was only to participate in the walk-through portion of practice, this report is certainly encouraging after Jones Jr. suffered a scary neck injury in Friday's loss to the Pacers. Although, he may miss a game or two, the injury doesn't appear to be overly serious and he should return at some point in the first round. If he is forced to miss Game 1, Solomon Hill could see some time off the bench.

Derrick Jones Jr. told reporters that he is hopeful of being ready for the start of the postseason for the Heat, after suffering a neck strain on Friday.

Fantasy Impact

Jones suffered the injury while fighting through a screen and got hit in the neck and shoulder area. He was in immense pain and had to be wheeled off the court as a precaution. The Heat stated that a CT Scan, MRI, and concussion test were performed on Jones and announced that it was indeed a neck strain. Jones said on Saturday that he still feels sore and considers himself day-to-day. He will to be continue evaluated over the weekend to determine if he will be available for the Monday’s first round of the playoffs versus the Pacers. Monitor his status for the contest but DFS players might want to play it safe and avoid starting Jones in your line-ups on Monday.

Derrick Jones Jr. left Friday's contest against the Indiana Pacers on a stretcher but received good news after being diagnosed with a neck strain. He will be re-evaluated over the weekend and is considered day-to-day.

Fantasy Impact

In a scary collision with Goga Bitadze of the Pacers, Jones Jr. remained on the court for several minutes until being removed via stretcher in the fourth quarter. Prayers were answered, as he escaped with only a neck strain. Jones Jr. is a fixture of Miami's rotation, and if all goes well in his evaluation within the next couple of days, he may have a shot to return for Game 1 against the rival Pacers in Tuesday's first-round matchup.

Derrick Jones Jr. (neck) left Friday's game against the Pacers in the third quarter after colliding with Goga Bitadze.

Fantasy Impact

Jones Jr. laid on the court for several minutes before being carried off on a stretcher. He looks to have injured his neck while fighting through a screen set by Goga Bitadze. Hopefully he is okay, but this is untimely news for the Heat given their first round series with the Pacers begins on Tuesday.