Herb Jones looks like the obstacle keeping the Pelicans from chasing Michael Porter Jr.
New Orleans fans have latched onto the idea of landing the Brooklyn Nets wing, especially with extension talks between Porter Jr. and the Nets apparently at a standstill. On paper, it’s easy to see why the interest has taken off: Porter Jr. would bring elite rebounding from the wing and another high-level three-point threat.
But the fit issue is real, and it circles back to Jamahl Mosley’s approach. Mosley has built his reputation on defense first, with a style that leans into turning stops into offense. Porter Jr. doesn’t naturally fit that mold, which makes the idea of moving a player like Herb Jones - the cleanest fit for that system - feel like a tough sell.
A trade framework that includes Jones, Jordan Poole, and draft picks looks like one of the more plausible paths if New Orleans were serious about making a run at Porter Jr. That kind of deal would also make sense from Brooklyn’s side. Jordi Fernandez’s emphasis on defense lines up well with Jones, while Poole’s expiring salary gives the Nets a way to keep their books flexible heading into next offseason.
Still, the Pelicans would be making a major gamble on balance. Swapping out Jones and Poole for Porter Jr. would likely give the offense a clear boost, but the defense would take a hit. And for a team under a coach who values that side of the floor so heavily, that’s not a small concern.
The case against keeping Jones out of any discussion is easy enough to understand. His offensive numbers have slipped over the last two seasons, and injuries have been part of the story too.
But once he’s gone, the question becomes obvious: who handles the toughest perimeter assignment? Dejounte Murray, lol?
Jones may not be the flashiest piece in the Pelicans’ projected starting five, but he gives the group a necessary shape. Trey Murphy III, Zion Williamson, and Murray can all create.
Yves Missi is there at center to finish possessions and anchor the defense. Jones is the stopper, the guy who takes the hardest defensive matchup and does the little offensive things that keep the whole thing connected.
Replace him with Porter Jr., and the roles get murkier fast. Mosley could ask Murphy III or Porter Jr. to take on more of that shutdown-wing responsibility, but then the logic of moving Jones starts to unravel. What’s the point of dealing out a player who fits the system just to bring in someone who forces the system to change?
There’s no question Porter Jr. has appeal, and it makes sense that Pelicans fans have zeroed in on him. Even so, with the coaching hire made this summer and the team still committed to being a defensive group, there doesn’t appear to be a realistic path right now. That could shift if the season opens in a certain direction, but for now, a deal involving Herb Jones feels unlikely before the offseason ends.
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