Sacrificing an elite defender could secure the New Orleans Pelicans a lottery return and offensive spacing, but parting with a locker room favorite risks shattering the team’s defensive identity.
The New Orleans Pelicans have an aggressive front office that is clearly not afraid to make a move that could shake things up. That was shown right away when they traded away their 2026 first round pick to draft Derik Queen last offseason.
When asked about it, Pelicans president Joe Dumars did not rule out the team trading back into the first round. That would certainly make the draft more interesting, but what exactly would it cost?
New Orleans doesn't have a ton of future capital to shift around to make a move, but they do have some veteran players that teams have been coveting for some time now. If they decide to part with one, they should certainly be able to get back into the first and potentially pick up even more.
Here is mock-up of a trade that seems to be within the asking price of the Pelicans while also being fair to the other team:
The Trade
New Orleans Pelicans Send: F Herb Jones Jr.
Charlotte Hornets Send: F Grant Williams, 2026 First-Round Pick (No. 14), 2029 First-Round Pick (Top-Four Protected)
There is a chance that trading Jones would go on to be a team-breaking decision. He has proven time-and-time again that things fall apart when he leaves the court. But if New Orleans does want to take a swing with one of their veterans, he does seems to be the one who it makes most sense to trade.
Jones is a couple of years older than even Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy, heading into his age-28 season. He's certainly not an old player, but it does put him a little bit further down the path of his career. If the Pelicans want to keep open the idea of rebuilding around Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears, Jones would be one of the first to go.
New Orleans also desperately needs to improve their offense and the spacing around Queen and Williamson, and Jones has been inconsistent at best. He shot 30.9% from three on 4.6 attempts last season. That could be a lot better.
All that being said, Jones is beloved in the locker room and in the city. He's one of the best defensive players in the league. The Pelicans will be well off if they keep him.
The Draft Pick
Getting back into the draft is the only reason to entertain the idea of trading Jones. If they were to land somewhere around the No. 14 pick, here are some players who could be available at that spot according to recent mock drafts:
1. Baylor SG Cameron Carr
2. Houston C Chris Cenac Jr.
3. Washington C/F Hannes Steinbach
