The NBA has seen incredible growth in contract sizes in recent years. New television revenues provide players with the opportunity to sign gigantic contracts, which The New Orleans Pelicans all about.
They accepted a maximum contract with Zion Williamson in 2023. He is one of four players on the roster, along with Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum and Dejounte Murray, who earn at least 21 percent of the salary cap.
That doesn’t leave much room to fill out the rest of the roster. Management will have to be astute and creative in finding a talented player who can fit in with their high-priced stars.
Players who signed entry-level contracts and performed at a high level are the most valuable thing to an NBA team. But some established players have signed extensions that have increased and exceeded the value of those contracts.
A player who would fall into the latter category is Herbert JonesJones signed a four-year, $53.8 million contract last summer, which was a steal at the time and will increase in value as the league’s salary cap continues to rise.
In the opinion of Eric Pincus of Blecher ReportJones’ contract with New Orleans is one of the best in the NBA. Pincus ranked Jones fifth in the league’s best contracts right now.
“Jones represents excellent value for the Pelicans at $13.9 million per season over the next three years. In addition to being named first-team All-Defensive, Jones averaged double-digit percentage last season, averaging 11 points per game while shooting 41.8 percent from three-point range,” Pincus wrote.
It’s something the Pelicans like to see. They signed Jones to a team-friendly contract that looks even better after he had the best season of his professional career. Last season, he also finished fifth in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
It will be interesting to see where he fits into the rotation this season, as Willie Green has his work cut out for him on the wing. With the addition of Dejounte Murray, Jones could be pushed back to the second unit, unless Green opts to play super small and move Williamson to center.
Whether he’s a starter or a backup, Jones is a player who has earned a significant role in the rotation. He’s essential to the team’s success on defense, and his three-point shot fits perfectly with players who are ball-dominant and willing to make the extra pass.
