The New Orleans Pelicans' first summer league game concluded earlier Thursday evening, and before everyone could overreact, Herb Jones stole the spotlight. The Pelicans losing their summer league opener is no longer the big story after Jones signed a 3 year $68 million deal, which was reported by ESPN's Shams Charania.
Jones now has a total of five years and $97 million remaining on his contract with the Pelicans, which includes a player option in 2029-30.
Jones was 35th overall in the 2021 NBA draft and has blossomed from a second-round pick to one of the NBA's best defenders. In the last two years, He has ranked in the top 10 in defense against isolation in the entire NBA. Last season, he appeared in only 20 games due to a shoulder injury, but averaged 10.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game. He struggled shooting the three-point ball last season at only 30.6%. That being said, a massive part of that was his shoulder injury affecting his jump shot.
As in the year prior, Jones shot 41.8% from three on over three attempts per game, making him much more than just a defensive player. During the same 2023-24 season, Herb was named to the All-Defensive First Team at the age of 25.
This extension is the best move Joe Dumars has made
With Dumars taking the Pelicans into an offensive-focused direction by trading for Jordan Poole and drafting both Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen in the 2025 NBA draft lottery. Those moves made extending Jones a top priority as his defensive presence now means even more then it did in years past.
Last season, the Pelicans' defense had the second-worst defensive rating in the NBA. However, in the two years prior, when Jones was healthy, New Orleans had the sixth-best defensive rating in both years. With his length and frame, Jones is not only a disruptor in passing lanes but also someone who has the versatility to guard every position. He is like a magic eraser that cleans up all the defensive mistakes his teammates make.
The rumors of Jones being traded all offseason can now officially be laid to rest. Keeping Jones is an incredible move and, by far, the best thing Joe Dumars has done since becoming the President of Basketball Operations for the Pelicans in April of 2025. To sign Jones, who is entering his prime at 26 years old, for only $22.6 million annually is an unreal steal.
With players like Jerami Grant, Jabari Smith Jr., Devin Vassell, and even Michael Porter Jr., all being paid upwards of $24 million, it puts into perspective how team-friendly a deal the Pelicans just got with this Herb Jones extension.
He means so much to not only the team but also to the city of New Orleans, and resigning him is a perfect move to continue building continuity within the Pelicans organization. If Joe Dumars continues to make moves like this, he may flip the script on the way the fan base views him as a front office leader.