The New Orleans Pelicans are no longer acting like a team ready to tear everything down.
After opening 0-4, they’ve started to show some pulse, and that shift has changed the way people around the league are reading their deadline plans. The roster is still young, the expectations are still modest, and the playoff path still looks shaky. But the Pelicans are no longer being viewed as obvious sellers, and that matters for the names being discussed.
Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints said the Pelicans were expected to be “major sellers,” but their recent rise has altered the picture. He noted that Jeremiah Fears, Saddiq Bey, Derik Queen, and Bennedict Mathurin are “completely off limits” in trade talks, and added that New Orleans does not have much interest in moving Trey Murphy or Zion Williamson.
That leaves Herb Jones as the biggest question mark.
“The big question is Herb Jones. The Pelicans say that they want to keep him, but they’ve been open to hearing trade offers for him, and they have not shut down those trade offers coming to them. I think this is finally the trade deadline that Herb Jones gets dealt.”
That’s a notable turn for a player who was once viewed as part of the long-term foundation. Now, Jones appears to be slipping out of favor, and the fit is getting harder to ignore. At 28, he doesn’t line up cleanly with the timeline New Orleans is trying to build around, and his role has already shrunk.
Through eight games this season, Jones is averaging 6.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.3 blocks while shooting 41.2% from the field. He’s also down to 23.9 minutes per game, which is a career low.
That combination makes him a very different kind of trade chip: a veteran three-and-D wing in his prime, on a contract that still looks manageable. Jones has four years and $70+ million left, and that gives him real value if the Pelicans decide to act.
Several teams already make sense if New Orleans opens the door.
The Golden State Warriors have been mentioned often, especially after Kristaps Porzingis’ injury. Jones would give them another reliable defensive option on the perimeter and a relatively safe target if they want help without swinging too big.
The Lakers are another team to watch. They’ve been searching for perimeter defense since the Luka Doncic trade, and Jones would fit that need. He also brings the kind of recognition that comes with finishing top five in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2024.
Then there’s Oklahoma City, which has the draft-pick stockpile and tradeable contracts to get involved. The Thunder have dealt with injuries this season, and Jones could help cover some of those losses if they decide to make a move.
For now, the Pelicans are not rushing into anything. They have a young group they want to keep developing, and they may prefer to let that process play out before making a major call. But if they do decide Herb Jones is available, there should be a market waiting.
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Domantas Sabonis has come up as a possible target if the Pelicans decide to chase a bigger swing, and the conversation around that kind of move says plenty about where the team thinks it stands. Any upgrade of that magnitude would come with real roster consequences, and the discussion has centered on what New Orleans might be willing to part with to make it happen, leaving the bigger question of whether the club actually pulls the trigger still unresolved. [Read more 🡒]
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Pooles status has become a talking point because his role has been shrinking even as he works his way back from injury. He was unavailable by coachs decision against the Jazz, and the broader backdrop is only making the conversation louder, with reports suggesting he has been open to opportunities elsewhere. For a Pelicans team trying to build momentum, the bigger question now is whether this is just a short-term lineup wrinkle or the start of something more complicated. [Read more 🡒]