The Golden State Warriors have as of yet been unable to recapture the magic they found late last year after making a blockbuster trade with the Miami Heat for Jimmy Butler.
So, the team is looking to make another deal for a prominent wing player ahead of the NBA‘s February trade deadline.
The New Orleans Pelicans are bad and getting worse, currently sitting at 3-19, which is the worst record in the entire league. Tanking makes little sense for the beleaguered franchise, as it traded away an unprotected first-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks as part of its effort to move up and select Derik Queen at No. 13 overall back in June.
Read More: Warriors’ Steve Kerr Delivers Bad News on Steph Curry’s Injury Timeline
But with Zion Williamson seriously injured yet again with a leg issue that will likely sideline him for several weeks, New Orleans’ new front office must start considering a long-term rebuild. That means stacking assets down the line, and future first-round picks from the Warriors could be quite lucrative once Stephen Curry finally ages out of his prime and/or retires.
Chris Dodson and Brett Siegel of CluthPoints reported on Wednesday, Dec 3 that Golden State has been hunting a deal for Pelicans 3-and-D wing Herb Jones.
“Herb Jones has been one of the most coveted two-way wings in the league, and the Pelicans have turned down multiple trade offers for him through the years,” Dodson and Siegel wrote. “The Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors are among a handful of Western Conference contenders actively exploring ways to acquire Jones, league sources told ClutchPoints.”
Jones is just 27 years old and recently signed a three-year extension valued at $67.6 million that keeps him under contract through 2029-30, though the last year of that deal is a player option.
Jones is a multi-positional defender who shoots the ball well enough to keep defenses honest, which is the exact type of player the Warriors could use with guys like Butler, Draymond Green and Jonathan Kuminga all playing serious minutes – none of whom are particularly strong threats from behind the 3-point line.
Read More: Warriors Will Cut Ties with Veteran Forward: Report