The New Orleans Pelicans are sitting at a brutal 0-3 to start the season, and honestly, expectations weren’t even that high to begin with, yet they’re somehow performing *below* them. Get this: they’ve had second-half leads in all three of those losses, including a monstrous 23-point advantage against the Denver Nuggets. But here’s the kicker: the coaching staff is straight-up refusing to embrace Herb Jones’ defense to slow down teams that are just surging right past them in those clutch moments, and now the rumor mill is spinning harder than ever.
Jones’ Minutes Are Tanking, But His Price Tag? Still Sky-High
It’s wild, but Herb Jones is currently playing a career-low 17.0 minutes per game. You’d think with their struggles closing out games, especially after blowing leads like that 23-point one, his elite perimeter defense would be a no-brainer. Instead, he’s benched, and the league is absolutely taking notice. Multiple sources are already saying teams are monitoring his situation, ready to pounce if the Pelicans’ asking price ever budges. There’s even a video floating around of Jones and GM David Griffin, or maybe it was Dumars, speaking at practice, only adding fuel to the fire about his future.
Here’s the problem: New Orleans has set their asking price at “near two first-round picks.” Seriously, *two* first-rounders! And predictably, no team has actually met that figure yet. The word around the league is that if Jones keeps getting sporadic minutes, his trade value is only going to plummet. Plus, his contract jumps from $14.9 million to a hefty $20.8 million next year, which only complicates things. Still, it’s not all doom and gloom for Jones. Several playoff teams view him as a valuable cultural and basketball fit, meaning there’s definite interest out there. But for now, the offers coming in are mostly second-round picks, and the Pelicans are still rebuffing them. It’s tough to justify passing on second-rounders for a player not getting minutes, but asking for two firsts is just too much. There has to be a middle ground, right?
OKC’s Gunning for Jones, While Other Teams Are Lowballing Hard
So, what does that middle ground look like? Well, there are a couple of scenarios floating around. One potential trade package shows what a team might offer to meet New Orleans’ current, steep asking price. In this “overpay” scenario, the Oklahoma City Thunder would land Herb Jones. The Pelicans, in return, would snag a 2027 first-round pick (via Denver, if it falls between No. 6 and No. 30) and a top-eight protected 2030 first-round pick.
OKC is one of the few teams that could actually stomach that kind of deal. They’ve got a treasure chest of young talent and future draft assets that’s just overflowing. Grabbing Jones would barely make a dent, and it would actually make it easier for them to sign their own young studs like Aday Mara, Bennett Stirtz, Jared McCain, Nikola Topić, and Thomas Sorber to second contracts. Plus, the Thunder have a trade exception big enough to absorb all of Jones’ $14.9 million salary, even if it pushes them into the second apron. Why the desperation? Season-ending injuries to Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace mean they suddenly need some serious wing depth. Jones’ perimeter defense would be an instant cultural fit, even if his three-point shot doesn’t bounce back to that sweet 41.8 percent from 2023-24. For New Orleans, it’s obvious: turn a player on the fringe into two future assets and open up developmental minutes.
On the flip side, we’ve got the “underpay” offers, which are more in line with what the Pelicans are reportedly already turning down. In this proposed deal, the Nets would get Herb Jones. The Pelicans would receive Terance Mann, a 2030 second-round pick (via Lakers), a 2031 second-round pick, and a 2032 second-round pick. New Orleans might be tempted here for the increased financial flexibility that comes with Terance Mann’s deal expiring.
So, where does this leave us? The Pelicans are struggling, blowing leads, and seemingly unwilling to play one of their best defenders. Meanwhile, trade offers are all over the map, from massive overpays to pure lowballs. What happens next with Herb Jones could absolutely shape the rest of New Orleans’ season, and frankly, it feels like something has to give. Will they finally move him, or will he stay in the rotation twilight zone?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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