Zalgiris Kaunas made an offer to one of the key LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne players Chris Jones, sources tell BasketNews.
ASVEL also offered an extension, but it won't be easy to keep a 29-year-old guard for the French side.
Numerous EuroLeague teams have Jones on their shortlist, and the playmaker is in no rush to decide on his future.
However, Zalgiris show a strong interest in bringing Jones as a primary playmaker for the next season.
He's also in the process of acquiring European citizenship this summer, sources tell BasketNews.
Jones averaged 13.1 points (2FG: 53.7%; 3FG: 39%), 3.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.5 steals, and 14.7 PIR in EuroLeague this season.
A 1.88 m guard played his highest-scoring game in a win against Fenerbahce Istanbul (27 PTS, 30 PIR).
In the first part of the season, Jones' versatility next to Elie Okobo boosted ASVEL among the Top 8 EuroLeague teams.
American stayed consistent in the domestic league, where he averaged 14 points (2FG: 60.3%; 3FG: 39.8%), 2.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.5 steals.
He started his pro career in Mongolia (2015-16) before heading to Switzerland and Belgium.
Jones jumped to the EuroLeague after the season in Bursaspor, where he posted 15.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, 6.8 assists, and 1.9 steals in the Turkish league (2019-20).
In his rookie EuroLeague campaign with Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2020-21, Jones scored 7 points and dished 2.8 assists on average.
![]() | Zalgiris Kaunas | |
Position | Player | Status |
PG | Mantas Kalnietis | Signed until 2023 |
PG | Lukas Lekavicius | Signed until 2025 |
SG | Karolis Lukosiunas | Signed until 2022 +1 |
SG | Tomas Dimsa | Signed until 2022 +1 |
SF | Niels Giffey | Signed until 2022 +1 |
SF/PF | Edgaras Ulanovas | Signed until 2024 |
PF | Tyler Cavanaugh | Signed until 2023 +1 |
C | Joffrey Lauvergne | Signed until 2022 +1 |
C | Josh Nebo | Signed until 2022 +1 |
C | Marek Blazevic | Signed until 2022 +1 |
Coach | Kazys Maksvytis (story) | |
Expired contract | Tai Webster, Janis Strelnieks, Arturas Milaknis, Paulius Jankunas (retiring), Regimantas Miniotas | |
Rumored to leave | Joffrey Lauvergne, Josh Nebo (story), Niels Giffey, Janis Strelnieks, Tai Webster, Paulius Jankunas (retiring) | |
Interested | Chris Jones, Marius Grigonis, Eigirdas Zukauskas, Arturas Gudaitis, Donatas Motiejunas, Kyle Allman, Caleb Homesley |