After reaching the NBA Finals last season, the Dallas Mavericks are poised to remain a contender in the Western Conference. They made numerous upgrades during the offseason and are the favorites to add another intriguing player at the deadline.
As trade season gets ready to kick off, the New Orleans Pelicans have been a team regularly brought up in rumors. Between their injury woes and the abundance of talent on their roster, they are a team that could make changes in the coming months. Earlier this week, Herb Jones was cited as one player reportedly garnering interest around the league.
Following these new developments regarding the Pelicans wing, betting odds came out on who his next team could be. Currently, the Dallas Mavericks are the favorites to land Jones in the event he is traded. Just behind them are the Memphis Grizzlies, Milwaukee Bucks, and LA Lakers.
Jones had a career year in 2024, but injuries have derailed things for him this season. He just recently returned to action after being on the sidelines for over a month. In the seven games he’s played thus far, Jones is averaging 10.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists.
In regards to his contract, any team that lands Jones would have him as a long-term piece. He is in the second year of a four-year contract, with his salary hanging around $12-$14 million a year.
Is Herb Jones a good trade target for the Dallas Mavericks?
In terms of fit and need, Herb Jones is the perfect trade target for the Dallas Mavericks. Not only is he the perfect complement, but his team-friendly contract would make him a great addition to the roster.
At the 2023 deadline, the Mavericks brought in Kyrie Irving to pair with Luka Doncic. The two have thrived alongside one another, quickly forming one of the league’s most dominant offensive pairings. With their top-tier talent locked in, Dallas needs to properly fill out the supporting cast around them.
As one of the most versatile defenders in the NBA, Jones is the kind of player the Dallas Mavericks should have their sights on. He can take the top defensive assignment on any given night, no matter the position. This would give the Mavs a lot of flexibility and allow them to limit the energy Doncic and Irving exert on defense.
While it currently looks like an outlier, Jones has shown flashes of being an efficient outside shooter. Last season, he connected on 41.8% of his three-point attempts while shooting just under four a game. If he could replicate that for Dallas, he’d become a major X-factor for them.
