After months of rumors and discussion in the NBA business space, expansion is coming to the league soon. The board of governors met on Wednesday and approved a vote to explore bids and applicants for expansion teams, according to ESPN NBA Insider Shams Charania.
Breaking: The NBA's Board of Governors has approved a vote for the league to explore bids and applicants for expansion teams exclusively in Las Vegas and Seattle, sources tell ESPN. A bidding process is expected to generate offers in the $7-10 billion range for each team. pic.twitter.com/yEaLPjnTVf
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 25, 2026
The inaugural season for the two expansion teams is expected to be in 2028-29, and both Seattle and Las Vegas are the favored cities to be awarded an NBA franchise.
So what does this mean for the New Orleans Pelicans? While it means that come the expansion draft, the front office can only protect eight players (barring a rule change). For some fans, only being able to protect just over half of the roster may seem scary, but for the Pelicans, it could serve as an escape route from a growing problem. Given the way the previous two seasons have gone for Herb Jones, he could become a candidate to be left unprotected.
Jones' offensive production has been steadily declining, and his defense is starting to follow suit. With him signing a multi-year extension this past summer, the draft could give the Pelicans a clean escape route from his contract.
Expansion gives the Pelicans a massive opportunity
Sure, his efficiency has jumped up over the last five games to 45.5 percent from the field and 40 percent from three, but for the majority of this season, he hasn’t been able to throw a rock in the ocean.
On top of that, he hasn’t provided the defensive impact he built his reputation on. He has often looked a step slow on the perimeter and not generated those big-time stops the way he used to. His recent play is an encouraging sign, but in general, when you have dealt with as many injuries as Jones has and you are on pace for your second disappointing season in a row, it can quickly shift from being a down year to becoming a player’s new reality.
So, why would an expansion team still be interested in him? If expansion does indeed come for the 2028-29 season, then Jones would have just two years left on his extension. So, for an expansion team, drafting a player who has built a reputation as an elite defensive stopper and playmaker gives the fan base someone to rally around. It also gives the team a good veteran voice and someone who has been around the league, which is valuable to a new team just getting started.
It wouldn't be shocking to see the Pelicans move Herb Jones this summer for someone who better fits the team's needs, i.e., three-point shooting. However, if he gets another chance and things continue to trend downward, New Orleans could have a perfect opportunity to offload his contract.