New Orleans Pelicans ahead Herb Jones has agreed to a three-year, $68 million contract extension, in line with ESPN’s Shams Charania. He now has a complete of 5 years and $97 million on his deal, which features a participant possibility for the 2029-30 season.
Jones averaged 10.3 factors, 3.9 rebounds and three.3 assists for the Pelicans throughout the 2024-25 season. He simply wrapped up his fourth season within the NBA after taking part in his faculty ball at Alabama.
“Herb Jones developed from a second-rounder to two-way stalwart and first staff All-Protection in 2023-24,” Charania wrote on X. “He’s one in every of eight gamers with 350 steals and 150 blocks since coming into NBA in 2021, and ranks in top-10 in protection in opposition to isolations over final two seasons, per ESPN Analysis.”
Jones was solely capable of play in 20 video games for the Pelicans throughout the 2024-25 season. He suffered a posterior labrum tear in his proper shoulder in a recreation in opposition to the Portland Path Blazers in January and missed the remainder of the season. It’s the primary damage that has made him miss important time throughout his profession, as he performed in no less than 66 video games throughout his first three NBA seasons.
The Pelicans was chosen with the thirty fifth total choose within the second spherical of the 2021 NBA draft after spending 4 seasons with the Crimson Tide. He’s been a gradual hand for New Orleans since being drafted, averaging no less than 9.5 factors per recreation since his rookie season. He’s been the mannequin for consistency within the Pelicans lineup, as his profession averages are almost similar to his stats from this previous season earlier than his damage.
One of many greatest variations, nonetheless, have been his help numbers. He was regular at a 2.5 help per recreation common over the previous two seasons earlier than bumping that quantity as much as 3.3 final 12 months. Now locked up long-term in New Orleans, Jones will hope to be a serious participant within the Pelicans lineup subsequent season as soon as he turns into wholesome.
It’s the newest transfer throughout a busy July for New Orleans. The staff just lately acquired Kevon Looney on July 7, in addition to guards Saddiq Bey and Jordan Poole from the Washington Wizards on July 6. Sooner or later earlier than, they signed rookies Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen to their rookie contracts. It stays to be seen if the Pelicans have any extra strikes up their sleeves this offseason.
