Title: New Orleans Pelicans Secure Herb Jones with $54 Million Contract Extension
Date: July 1, 2023
New Orleans – In a major development for the New Orleans Pelicans, Herb Jones has signed a new four-year, $54 million deal that will keep him with the team, according to his agents, Mark Bartelstein and Kieran Piller from Priority Sports. The news was confirmed by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Andrew Lopez.
The 24-year-old forward, who was a second-round draft pick for the Pelicans in 2021, decided to decline his option to sign a long-term contract with New Orleans. Jones, renowned for his defensive prowess, quickly rose through the ranks and solidified his place in the starting lineup. Having started in 135 out of 144 possible games in his first two seasons, Jones has become an integral part of the team’s plans.
Over his brief career, Jones has averaged 9.7 points with an impressive 1.6 steals per game. His exceptional defensive skills earned him a place in the top 10 for steals in both his seasons in the league. Displaying his potential early on, Jones narrowly missed making an All-Defensive team in his rookie season and received votes for the same recognition in the past season.
While Jones’ offensive game is a work in progress, he has shown promising signs of improvement. As a rookie, he shot 33.7% from beyond the arc, and though there was a slight drop to 33.5% last season, his shooting percentages saw a notable improvement after the All-Star break. Jones managed to shoot an impressive 44.4% on 2.3 attempts per game during this period.
Jones had initially been due to make $1.8 million next season; however, the Pelicans chose to decline his option. By securing his services with the lucrative $54 million extension, the Pelicans have solidified their belief in Jones’ potential and contribution to the team’s success in the coming years.
With Herb Jones locked in alongside their array of talented young stars, the New Orleans Pelicans are looking to build a formidable team to contend in the highly competitive NBA landscape.