Whatever new GM Joe Dumars and the Pelicans are building with their roster in New Orleans — and that is a legitimate question and discussion for another day — Herb Jones would fit in as part of it.
Which is why the Pelicans and Jones agreed to a three-year, $68 million extension on Thursday with a player option in the final year, [a story broken by Shams Charania of ESPN](https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/1943457585274982506). These three seasons will be tacked on to the end of the two existing years on Jones’ contract, keeping him with the team for a total of five seasons (at a total of $96.4 million).
Jones is an elite wing defender — 2023-24 All Defense — who averaged 10.3 points per game last season and boasts a career 3-point shooting percentage of 36.6%. He is a high-level 3&D player. He and Trey Jones III are the core of the wings on the Pelicans, and part of the franchise’s core with Zion Williamson.
Because he is a coveted wing defender, multiple teams have called in recent years and kicked the tires on a Jones trade, but New Orleans has shot them down. However, should Dumars and the Pelicans decide to pivot, Jones is still on a very affordable and very tradeable contract with this extension.
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