The New Orleans Pelicans' wing duo of Herbert Jones and Trey Murphy III were frequently involved in trade rumors leading up to February's deadline. Though a deal never materialized, they are predictably resurfacing in offseason trade rumors, most recently by HoopsHype's Michael Scotto.
While Murphy would be the ideal co-star to pair with Deni Avdija, his seamless fit means there will be increased competition from several teams around the league, driving up his trade value. For the Portland Trail Blazers, the more realistic option could be Jones, who could be just the missing piece required to take this defense from good to elite.
Blazers could double down on their defensive identity with Herb Jones
The Pelicans are coming off a 26-win season. One would assume that if they were to part ways with one of their coveted wings, it would be to acquire future assets to help reset their timeline and improve their long-term outlook. But time and time again, the New Orleans front office has defied conventional wisdom, and this appears to be the latest example.
The Pelicans' asking price for Murphy surprisingly includes more established players to help them win right away, and one would assume the same applies for Jones. That's a puzzling and likely incorrect approach, but fortunately, the Blazers are well-equipped to meet those requirements given their blend of youth and veterans.
If they can somehow come away with Jones this summer, Portland could legitimately have a case as the best defense in the association.
They have the financial flexibility to bring back both Robert Williams III and Matisse Thybulle, both of whom are eligible for extension prior to June 30. That would be almost too many elite individual defensive weapons to keep track of, between Jones, Williams, Thybulle, Toumani Camara, Jrue Holiday, and Donovan Clingan.
Adding Jones into the mix would be the perfect next step for the defensive identity and roster that general manager Joe Cronin envisioned. They have elite rim protectors in Clingan and Williams, and the versatility and length on the perimeter with multiple wings who can switch everything.
Portland may have finished the season with a middle-of-the-pack defensive rating, but they are a much better defensive unit on paper. With a healthier roster and Jones in the equation, a top-five defensive finish next season would be reasonable to expect.
Damian Lillard's return wouldn't help in that department, but this is an entirely different Blazers roster than the one he left in 2023. They are built perfectly to cover for his limitations on the defensive end, and acquiring Jones would be the final missing piece to becoming a truly elite defensive unit.
