Pelicans May Regret Not Trading Herb Jones at Deadline

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The New Orleans Pelicans decided to hold onto Herb Jones at the trade deadline, despite reported interest from other teams. However, Jones' offensive struggles this season have diminished his trade value, and the Pelicans may end up regretting not cashing in on him when his value was higher.

Why it matters

Jones is one of the best defensive wings in the NBA, but his limited offensive game makes him a tough fit on many teams. If his trade value continues to decline, the Pelicans could miss out on a chance to acquire valuable assets by trading him.

The details

Jones is having the worst offensive season of his career, shooting just 29.3% from three and 48.4% from two-point range. His true shooting percentage of 48.6% is one of the lowest in the league. As a player who rarely creates his own shots, this level of inefficiency is concerning. Teams looking for wing upgrades may be hesitant to give up significant assets for Jones, especially as his contract extension kicks in over the next few seasons.

• The Pelicans decided to stand pat at the 2026 trade deadline.
• Since the deadline, the Pelicans have gone 9-6, but are still headed to the lottery.

What’s next

The Pelicans will have to decide whether to trade Herb Jones in the offseason or hold onto him, hoping he can improve his offensive game.