With the absence of Zion Williamson, the Pelicans are a team stuck in purgatory. Zion’s return from injury has been delayed time and time again, and even when he does play again, his history suggests he will be back on the sidelines before too long. So the front office is stuck. If you can only play with the ball in your hands you wont fit well next to Zion when he’s healthy, and if you work best in a system built around one central superstar you will be ineffective when he’s injured. The Pelicans found a young player who can do both. And they found him in the second round.
Thirty-four players were selected in the 2021 NBA draft before the Pelicans drafted Herb Jones. Today the NBA updated their Rookie of the Year Rankings. Jones was 7th and one of just two second round picks in the top 10. Herb leads all rookies in steals with 81, which is also among the top 10 across the entire league. He’s also 2nd in blocks, trailing only defensive phenom Evan Mobley. Despite losing multiple key defensive pieces over the offseason, the Pelicans have improved their defense from last season, and that improvement is largely due to the contributions of the 6’6” rookie.
Despite his elite technique, footwork, and frame, Jones is far from his defensive potential. He tends to overhelp and can sometimes get stuck in no man's land between offensive threats. This Possession is a perfect example. He wants to help against a hot Ricky Rubio but leaves open a good shooter in the corner. He needs to be more decisive and learn how and when to leave his assignment. He also tends to bite on fakes more than he should and it can leave him exposed to blow-bys and fouls. Once again, we see that in this possession. He wants to help but doesn’t commit to it and gives up an easy pass to an open Lauri Markkanen. He bites on the pump fake and once again, gives up a high percentage shot to a good shooter. He needs to cut those lapses out as soon as possible. But when he does stay disciplined he is an absolute force. His mix of wingspan, strength, and technique can absolutely suffocate anyone going towards the rim. On this play he takes on the bigger Kevin Love and blocks his layup attempt. It is rare that you find elite help defenders at the wing position, but it can be extremely valuable for any defense. Any player that can make plays like this provides enormous value. He slides into position quickly and decisively and does a great job of blocking him without fouling. His defense has shades of Mattisse Thyblle’s, although he’s not quite the athlete Thyblle is. That is an extremely high bar and one he will likely never reach, but with Herb’s potential the sky is truly the limit. He is already one of the premier wing defenders in the league at 23 years old, who knows how good he can be in a few seasons.
On offense, Jones is already an extremely good cutter off of the ball. His timing is impeccable and his physical attributes make it very hard to stop him once he has some momentum going towards the rim. On this possession, he waits until the second Kevin Love turns his back before cutting behind him and finishing through contact. Once again, Herb remains patient, cuts through the defense, and makes the layup. Jones is a little more rough around the edges as a ball handler and playmaker, but the flashes are there. He is strongest offensively in transition where he can properly utilize his speed to push the ball upcourt. When Ricky Rubio thought he had beaten the rookie to the basket, Herb did this. This is a textbook example of turning defense into offense at a high level. On this fastbreak possession, Jones shows off his dribbling ability to find space and then finishes through some light contact. His halfcourt scoring is a little spottier. He also has flashes in half court offense, although it’s clear he's not quite as comfortable. When he doesn’t have the ball he tends to stand around watching the offense. He’s at his best when he is aggressive as a slasher and attacking using his physicality. On this play, Jones uses strength and speed to get past Dean Wade and draw a foul at the rim. The midrange is easily his biggest weakness, as Jones shoots a terrible 33% on all jumpers between the paint and the 3pt line. He has been far more effective as a shooter from behind the 3-point line. Thus far on the season he is shooting a little over 36% on three pointers and in the last 8 games he has been red hot. He’s shooting 44% on 2 attempts a game. That number is unsustainable, he will most likely never shoot that high over a significant amount of time. But if anyone can do it, it’s Fred Vinson. Vinson has developed a reputation as one of the league's best shooting coaches after his work with Lonzo Ball last season, when he brought the young guard from being a 33% 3pt shooter at the beginning of his time in New Orleans to his current % of over 42%. If he can do something similar with Jones the league should look out.
Herb Jones is no Zion Williamson. He’s not a 250 pound super athlete with a media circus following him everywhere he goes. He’s not Jalen Green or Anthony Edwards, two young slashers who can jump to the moon. He isn’t an omniscient passer like LaMelo Ball or Josh Giddey. But none of them are Herb Jones. Only one man is, and 29 teams let him fall to another team into the second round. They already regret it, I’m sure.
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