The NBA offseason has reached the point where players who remain unsigned are more willing to consider overseas options than they may have been earlier this summer.
For one former member of the Los Angeles Lakers, that reality has led to him agreeing with a deal that will bring him to Australia and the NBL. According to Ogun Uluc of ESPN.com, the Perth Wildcats are in the process of finalizing an agreement with free agent wing Mason Jones on a deal that will bring him to the capital city of Western Australia.
Former Lakers Guard Mason Jones Agrees to Join NBL's Perth Wildcats
After a brief five-game stint with Darüşşafaka Lassa of the Basketball Super League in Turkey, Jones has agreed to head overseas for just the second time in his career as he is reportedly set to fill the final spot on Perth's roster for the 2025-26 campaign.
The former Laker won't be the only player on Perth's roster with NBA experience on his resume, as Dylan Windler will be joining him on the Wildcats. After advancing to the semifinals of the NBL playoffs this past season, Perth hopes that the addition of talents like Jones and Windler can be enough to push the Wildcats back to the top.
Given that the franchise qualified for the playoffs for 35 consecutive years from 1987 to 2021, a certain standard of excellence is expected from this franchise. As a result, Jones will be expected to produce from the moment he steps on the floor.
Fortunately, getting the job done on the hardwood when given the opportunity to show his entire arsenal is an area where Jones excels. This was evident from his play with the Stockton Kings this past season. In 27 appearances for the Kings, Jones averaged 23.6 points, 7.9 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game with shooting splits of .492/.447/.790. In four appearances with the Lakers during the 2021-22 campaign, Jones averaged 6.8 points and 2.5 rebounds in 12.6 minutes of play per game.
This was enough to help Stockton lay claim to the 2025 G League Finals championship. Now that he will be taking his talents to Perth, the fans and coaches of the Wildcats hope he has a similar impact as they look to bring home the franchise's first NBL title since 2021.