The 2026 NBA playoffs have been full of surprising results. Whether it's the Los Angeles Lakers jumping out to a 3-1 lead over Houston without Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves, the Orlando Magic stealing two games against Detroit, or Minnesota taking control of their series against Denver, there have been plenty of surprises. A season-long storyline has only been reinforced in round one, as it's clear that Denver has no real defensive stopper.
Prior to Game 3, Minnesota forward Jaden McDaniels called out Denver for having a bunch of negative defenders, and he backed that talk up. McDaniels led the Wolves to a 113-96 win with 20 points and 10 rebounds. With the Nuggets on the brink of elimination, major changes could be coming this offseason, and the number one priority will likely be getting a wing stopper.
Considering the New Orleans Pelicans are coming off their second straight sub-30 win season, Denver could look to pursue a trade for Herb Jones. Adding the former All-Defensive team member to the Nuggets would instantly raise their defensive ceiling.
Jones is coming off his second straight down season from a box-score production standpoint, and the Pelicans' front office may have interest in cutting ties with him this summer.
Herb Jones could solve Denver's biggest problem
During the regular season, the Nuggets ranked 21st in defensive rating across the NBA, and to this point in the postseason, they are 11th out of 16 teams. For a team that arguably has the best player in the world on their roster and is always pushing for a championship or bust ceiling, this is abysmal. Some may suggest that a portion of the blame should fall on David Adelman, as he's struggled to make in-game adjustments and counter the Timberwolves' offensive attack. But at the same time, he also doesn't have a true shutdown defender on his roster. Jones could change that.
Sure, to some, a team like the Nuggets may be insane to take a swing on Jones, as he has been injury-prone over the past two seasons and just shot sub-40 percent from the field this past season. But they may have no choice. Elite wing defenders are at a premium in the NBA, and Jones is exactly that.
While the Pelicans' defense struggled this season, Jones was great individually, as New Orleans carried a 114.4 defensive rating when he was on the court. His overall impact was still there despite a down season scoring the ball, as among players who played 50 or more games, he was first on the team in net rating.
With Jones owed a total of $67.5 million over the next three seasons, his $20+ million salary wouldn't be hard for Denver to match in a trade. New Orleans needs shooting after finishing in the bottom seven in three-point attempts, makes, and percentage last season, and swapping Jones for a sniper like Cameron Johnson could be a win-win.
When Herb Jones was extended last offseason, many felt that it solidified his place in the Pelicans long-term future. However, with his down production, the Pelicans could shop Jones this summer, and a playoff team like Denver, desperate for a defensive upgrade, could be a suitor.
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