Pelicans, Herb Jones Agrees To 3-Year, $68M Extension

New Orleans Pelicans forward Herb Jones has agreed to a three-year, $68 million contract extension with the franchise, representatives Mark Bartelstein and Kieran Piller of Priority Sports told ESPN.

Jones now has a total of five years and $97 million on his Pelicans deal, with a new player option in 2029-30.

Jones’ current contract will pay him roughly $13.9 million this season and $14.9 million in the 2026-27 season. His new contract will begin in the 2027-28 season and will start at 140% of his previous salary, with annual raises of 8%.

The 26-year-old has risen from a second-round pick in the 2021 NBA draft to a two-way stalwart for the Pelicans, being named to the 2023-24 All-Defensive first team. He is one of eight players to have 350 steals and 150 blocks since entering the league. Jones has ranked in the top 10 in defense against isolations over the past two seasons, among players who have defended 150 isolations, per GeniusIQ.

Jones also shot a career-best 42% on 3-pointers in 2023-24. He played only 20 games last season due to shoulder/labrum injuries, which were the fewest in a season in his career.

The 6-foot-8 forward has averaged 10.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists across four seasons. 

Jones joins Trey Murphy and Zion Williamson as the only Pelicans players on guaranteed contracts through at least the 2027-28 season, though Dejounte Murray and the team’s 2024 and 2025 draftees have options for that season.

Jones, specifically, will have a six-month trade restriction once he officially signs his extension, so he won’t become eligible to be traded until January.