Herbert Jones’ early-season role in New Orleans has already become one of the biggest talking points around the Pelicans, and head coach Jamahl Mosley made it clear this week that getting the veteran forward back on the floor more is a priority.
“In this moment right now, Herb is the ultimate professional in where he is and finding more time for him is going to be a key priority for me,” Mosley said on Tuesday. “And I know that as a defensive coach, there’s no way for me to look around it… We talked about doing things in a five-game sample size and seeing what it looks like and where it can be and what we can do, but again, high priority to make sure that we continue to see Herb on the floor more.”
Jones responded with a season-high 18:32 on Wednesday, but the Pelicans still dropped their fourth straight game to open the year, and his workload barely budged from the opening stretch. Through the first four games, he remains far below the 28.4 minutes per game he logged last season.
The minutes dip is tied in part to the way New Orleans has opened games. Jones, who had started 280 consecutive regular-season games before this season, has moved to the bench. The Pelicans also appear committed to Jeremiah Fears in the starting five, with Shamit Dua of In The NO reporting that head of basketball operations Joe Dumars and the front office are very high on the second-year guard.
That leaves little room. Trey Murphy III and Zion Williamson are set as starters, Mosley wants a center in the group as well, and with Yves Missi sidelined by a left knee injury, DeAndre Jordan has filled that spot. Dejounte Murray has taken the remaining opening.
Dua reported that although Murray denied in February that he had asked for a trade from New Orleans, there is a belief around the league that both the team and the guard would welcome a “better situation.” He also suggested the Pelicans may be starting Murray partly to raise his value and present him to potential trade suitors. Some staffers in New Orleans also believe Murray and reserve wing Bennedict Mathurin can approximate Jones’ defensive impact to some degree.
Even with Jones’ reduced role, the Pelicans are not signaling that they want to move him more aggressively. NBA insider Marc Stein reported this week that the team has not shown any increased willingness to trade Jones, and on the All NBA Podcast, Stein said the club has held firm on asking for two first-round picks for Jones and three for Murphy. Dua said Jones’ asking price remains “near two first-round picks.”
That asking price may be the sticking point for interested teams. Several playoff clubs are watching Jones and see him as a strong fit both on and off the court, but rival executives believe his value could slip if he continues to spend most of his time coming off the bench. His contract only adds another layer, with his salary set to rise from $14.9MM this season to $20.9MM in 2027/28 when his extension kicks in.
Jordan Poole is another name drawing attention. The veteran guard is on an expiring $34MM contract and has let the Pelicans know he would be open to opportunities elsewhere, according to Dua. Poole played only seven minutes on Wednesday after averaging 19.0 MPG off the bench across the first three games.
Yves Missi has also attracted outside interest. Dua reported that the Warriors are among the teams that have recently checked in on the third-year big man, but New Orleans has turned away the offers. Those proposals have mainly centered on second-round picks, and the Pelicans do not view that as enough for a player Mosley likes and sees as the “focal point” of the team’s defense.
In Other News...
Pelicans Keep Sending A Frustrating Herb Jones Message
Herb Jones has been too good a defensive piece for New Orleans to be treated like an afterthought, which is why the early-season minute distribution has stood out. Through the first four games, he has been stuck at a career-low 17.5 minutes per game, a number that doesnt square with how much he can change a game on the defensive end when hes on the floor.
Jamahl Mosley has already acknowledged the need to get Jones on the court more, but the adjustment still appears to be a work in progress. Even in the recent game, Jones was used sparingly as the staff continued sorting through his role, leaving the Pelicans with a familiar tension: they clearly value his impact, yet the minutes have not caught up to that reality. [Read more 🡒]
Pelicans Finally Got The Win Fans Needed To See
The Pelicans finally gave their fans the kind of response they had been waiting for, rolling past the Sacramento Kings 132-120 to snap a four-game losing streak. It was the sort of balanced win New Orleans has been searching for, with Jeremiah Fears steering the offense, Zion Williamson providing efficient scoring and Trey Murphy III supplying a clean scoring night without turnovers.
Herb Jones also made his presence felt in his return to the starting lineup, bringing the defensive edge the Pelicans have been trying to rediscover. Fears set the tone throughout the game, and the second-quarter push helped New Orleans separate itself enough to turn a tense stretch into a much-needed victory, even if there is still more to sort out going forward. [Read more 🡒]
Jeremiah Fears Just Gave The Pelicans A Backcourt Dilemma
Jeremiah Fears gave the Pelicans a real glimpse of what their backcourt could look like when he has more responsibility. In the win over the Kings, the rookie handled a bigger offensive load with Dejounte Murray unavailable for the birth of his child, and he responded by blending scoring with steady creation in a way New Orleans can build around. His presence on the floor did more than just fill minutes. It changed the way the Pelicans could organize their offense.
What makes the performance especially interesting is the way Fears influenced the game on both ends without looking overwhelmed by the moment. He was active as a playmaker, efficient enough to keep the offense moving and disruptive enough defensively to matter in key stretches. The larger question now is whether this was a one-night adjustment or the start of a more permanent conversation about how the Pelicans want to use him alongside their other guards. [Read more 🡒]