The New Orleans Pelicans finalized forward Herb Jones’ contract extension on Monday. Shortly after, Pelicans head of basketball operations Joe Dumars broke down why the franchise was so eager to lock up Jones long-term.
Upon being selected 35th in the 2021 NBA Draft, Jones quickly rose to prominence over his first four seasons as a defensive standout and complementary offensive contributor.
On Thursday, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Jones agreed to a three-year, $68 million extension with New Orleans, making him the longest-committed player on the team’s cap sheet. According to Dumars, the decision to extend Jones was a no-brainer.
Joe Dumars Highlights Herb Jones’ Grit As Determining Factor in His $68 Million Contract Extension
After Jones’ extension became official, New Orleans released a statement from Dumars Monday conveying its enthusiasm. The newly hired front office executive underscored how Jones’ intangibles made him a player the organization wanted to retain for the foreseeable future.
“Herb Jones exemplifies all the great qualities our team values with his toughness, competitiveness and commitment to getting better every day,” Dumars said. “We could not be more excited to sign Herb to this contract extension and keep him in New Orleans for many years to come.”
Joe Dumars on Herb Jones:
“Herb Jones exemplifies all the great qualities our team values with his toughness, competitiveness, and commitment to getting better every day. We could not be more excited to sign Herb to this contract extension and keep him in New Orleans for many… https://t.co/HKPrqA1poz
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) July 15, 2025
Per Charania, following his extension, Jones has five years and $97 million remaining on his deal, with a player option for the 2029-30 campaign. This comes after the second-rounder signed a four-year, $53.8 million contract with the Pelicans in 2023.
New Orleans Pelicans forward Herb Jones has agreed to a three-year, $68 million contract extension with the franchise, Mark Bartelstein and Kieran Piller of @PrioritySports told ESPN. Jones now has a total five years and $97M on his Pelicans deal – with player option in 2029-30. pic.twitter.com/qXTvYT7Rym
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 10, 2025
Given Jones’ two-way skill set, he has been in high demand across the league, with some speculating that Dumars and Co. could flip him amid their retooling efforts. According to Charania, the 26-year-old is “one of eight players with 350 steals and 150 blocks since entering the NBA in 2021.” Moreover, he “ranks in the top 10 in defense against isolations over the last two seasons.”
Jones underwent surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder on Feb. 12, cutting his fourth season short after only 20 appearances.
However, when healthy, the Alabama product has proven to be one of the NBA’s premier defenders. During the 2023-24 season, he earned an All-Defensive first team selection and finished fifth in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
Jones is set to earn a relatively affordable $13.9 million and $14.9 million over the final two years of his previous contract before his extension kicks in during the 2027-28 campaign. If his rehab goes smoothly and he returns to form defensively, he should continue operating as one of the league’s best value players.
His versatility will also be key to the Zion Williamson-led Pelicans’ hopes of bouncing back from an injury-riddled 21-win season.
