As of now, Herb Jones likely isn't the Golden State Warriors' biggest trade target—even on the New Orleans Pelicans.
Although a report from insider Shamit Dua on his Substack raised questions about Herb Jones' share of the Pelicans' rotation this season and how highly he's valued by new head coach Jamahl Mosley, New Orleans continues to stand firm on their high asking price to move the 6'7" wing, at least publicly. Instead current speculation has been focused on Dejounte Murray, Yves Missi, and Jordan Poole—each of whom the Warriors have some sort of fit for depending on the situation.
But if Golden State ultimately can't land Missi with the Kristaps Porzingis contract, there has to be a willingness on their end to monitor Jones' situation. His fit as a potential 3-and-D contributor to this rotation is simply too tantalizing to pretend otherwise.
Landing Jones, though, comes with its own complications. As Yaxel Lendeborg continues to establish himself as a true starter for this team, there are already questions about how things shake out when Jimmy Butler returns. Does Gui Santos go to the bench? Does Draymond Green head there if Golden State is able to somehow land a center before the trade deadline?
Jones is a clear theoretical fit on this roster if he becomes available. But the potential addition of another forward intensifies the questions that already face Golden State concerning its frontcourt.
The Warriors already have some frontcourt questions to answer—interest in another forward intensifies those
Now, Jones isn't a perfect player. It's likely that either Missi or Trey Murphy III would be more desirable targets for the Warriors, as Jones has struggled to make a consistent offensive impact, at least in terms of raw scoring, over the past couple of seasons.
But let's just say, in a vacuum, that the Warriors are able to land Jones for some combination of his $14 million salary (which could be either the Porzingis contract or a pairing of Moody and Georges NIang's) and relatively minimum draft capital. He's the sort of player that could help complete a lineup with both Lendeborg and Green in it.
Jones isn't currently starting or closing games in New Orleans, and he's averaging a career-low 17.5 minutes under this new coaching staff. Wouldn't the Pelicans at least think about moving him at some point this season if this trend continues?
As mentioned above, though, Golden State already has plenty of questions answer in its own frontcourt. Lendeborg, Santos, and Green appears to be a viable small-ball combination for now. But what happens when Butler returns?
It doesn't seem like Lendeborg, Butler, and Green could give the Warriors the floor spacing they need on a night-to-night basis, even if Lendeborg proves himself as a high-profile perimeter shooter over the next couple of months. Moving Green to the bench, in this look, isn't an option without a floor-spacing center to take his place. Swapping in Santos for Butler would also compromise some of the Warriors' offensive viability, assuming Butler is operating at even 60% capacity upon his return.
Now, just as a thought exercise, toss Herb Jones into that mix. Theoretically, he could play the three while Lendeborg plays the four. But that does that mean Butler goes to the bench until the end of the regular season? Moving Lendeborg there, with the way he's playing right now, isn't an option.
Adding Jones, meanwhile, and taking him out of a situation where his minutes are limited just to stick him on the bench doesn't make much sense. But in a vacuum, he still presents a tantalizing target for the Warriors if he were to become available.
This thought process also applies to almost any forward of that caliber that becomes available across the league this season. It fits a clear need for the Warriors, but it's also time to start thinking about how this lineup can be maximized when Butler's return inevitably comes.
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