Can Herb Jones Regain Elite 3-And-D Form For The Pelicans Next Season?

New Orleans Pelicans forward Herb Jones is widely regarded as one of the best on-ball and perimeter defenders in the game. With the Pelicans, he remains a key rotation player, providing a substantial defensive boost when he is on the court.

Apart from his defensive upside, Jones had also carved out a space for himself on the team as a viable perimeter threat on offense. While this was not seen in his rookie season, the forward gradually developed a dependable shot from long range.

In his third season, Jones had taken huge strides in improving as a three-point shooter, as he shot 41.8% from beyond the arc, along with an average of 11.0 points and 3.6 rebounds per game.

While it seemed like he would maintain these figures heading into the 2024-25 season as well, Jones instead saw a massive downswing in shooting productivity.

Four games into the new campaign, the forward sustained an injury that saw him sidelined for a large portion of the season. After returning to the rotation, he appeared in 16 games before suffering a shoulder injury in January, effectively sidelining him for the remainder of the campaign.

After 20 appearances, he averaged 10.3 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. While these figures remain promising all the same, his three-point shooting dropped to 30.6%, raising concerns.

As a defensive presence, the 26-year-old's reputation speaks for itself. The forward has showcased tremendous defensive instincts, and by leveraging his innate athleticism and physical tools, he was recognized by the league early on, as he finished sixth in the 2021-22 ROTY race.

The 2023-24 season could be perceived as a breakout year. Having cemented his place as a starter for the Pelicans in the previous season, Jones built upon this with increased contributions, notching 1.4 steals and 0.8 blocks per game. 

For his sustained brilliance, he even earned a selection to the NBA's All-Defensive First Team. He also finished fifth in DPOY voting, a noteworthy feat at 25 years old.

The concerns regarding Jones' performance as a defensive stopper are minor. Given the nature of his injury, it is unlikely for the 26-year-old to experience hindrances in mobility and defensive versatility. However, the same cannot be said about his perimeter shooting.

Jones successfully underwent surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder in February. The general timeline suggests that the recovery from injury could take anywhere between 4-6 months, while recovery for performance in high-intensity sports could even take as long as a year.

Since the injury was to his dominant shooting arm, there will be some concerns about his prospective performance once he recovers. For the most part, the road to regaining his three-point shooting form is a long one.

If Jones is to be sidelined for a significant portion of the 2025-26 season as well, the opportunity for him to re-establish himself as a key player in New Orleans' updated rotation may be limited. 

With Trey Murphy III acting as a solid replacement for the forward, the 26-year-old may be relegated to a bench role once he returns to the floor. Since Murphy also sustained an injury last season, though, the position could still be up for grabs.

The Pelicans offered Herb Jones a three-year, $68 million extension in July, effectively putting an end to all trade interest from teams around the league. This investment from New Orleans may pay off once the forward returns to action.

Even in a bench role, Jones would be a huge defensive boost with the second unit. With all the necessary traits of an impactful role player, the Pelicans have been wise to retain him.