The Golden State Warriors are still searching for defensive stability. Some nights they compete. Some nights the floor drops out. With the Western Conference tightening, even small lapses matter.
A new report suggests they are looking at one of the league’s top defenders as a possible answer.
According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, the Warriors are among several teams “actively exploring ways” to acquire Herb Jones if the New Orleans Pelicans become open to offers.
Jones is one of the most coveted defensive wings in the NBA. All-Defensive First Team in 2024. Elite instincts. Positionless coverage. A low-maintenance, high-impact player. Those guys rarely get shopped.
If he does, the Warriors want to be in the conversation.
Why the Warriors Are in the Mix for Herb Jones
GettyAnthony Davis shoots over Herb Jones.
Jones fits exactly what the Warriors lack. A wing stopper. A rotation cleaner. Someone who can guard primary scorers without forcing Draymond Green into every heavy assignment.
Golden State has challenged its younger players to defend with consistency. The results have been uneven. Random role players keep hitting career nights. Rotations break. Momentum swings. Jones is the type of defender who stops those spirals before they start.
Siegel linked both the Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers to Jones. The interest is real. The fit is simple. The question is what the price looks like.
Warriors Trade Options Start With Kuminga
In any serious Warriors pursuit of Jones, the starting point is Jonathan Kuminga. That is the reality.
Kuminga becomes eligible to be traded January 15. That date is likely circled by both sides. The relationship has been trending toward a natural end. The fit has felt off. The role has shifted too often. The trust has wavered at times.
Golden State re-signed Kuminga this past summer on a contract structured to remain tradeable, not locked in long term. Flexibility was the point. It gave the Warriors a path to pivot if the right opportunity came along.
Kuminga still has strong league-wide value. He has power, verticality, growth potential and moments of real creation. In a different system, teams believe he could take a meaningful step forward.
The secondary trade piece is Moses Moody. Solid, reliable and on a friendly contract. But Moody alone will not headline a Jones deal. He can complement an offer. He cannot anchor it.
If the Pelicans field calls, Golden State’s path starts with Kuminga.
What Herb Jones Would Bring to the Warriors
Jones checks every Warriors box defensively. His versatility lets him guard positions one through four and absorb the toughest matchup on most nights. Instinct drives his rotations. Breakdowns get cleaned up before they turn into problems. Lineups look sharper when he is on the floor.
On offense, his game meshes well with Golden State’s rhythm. Off-ball movement comes naturally to him. Cuts are timed. He finishes the plays others create and keeps the ball moving. Spacing stays intact because he does not overdribble or stall possessions.
Adding him would stabilize the Warriors on the defensive end and sharpen their identity. Golden State has not had a wing defender of his caliber since peak Draymond.
Who Can Actually Make the Better Offer?
The Lakers are also in the hunt. Siegel mentioned their interest as well. Their need is clear. They lack consistent wing defense outside of Marcus Smart and stretches from their younger players.
But their trade pieces are different. Rui Hachimura. Dalton Knecht. Salary filler like Gabe Vincent. Solid players. Not centerpiece players.
Knecht can shoot. Kuminga can change games. The gap matters.
If New Orleans retools, they will prioritize upside and control. Golden State can offer more of both.
Who Makes More Sense for the Pelicans?
Kuminga is averaging 13.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists on 46.8 percent shooting. His scoring comes mostly around the rim, where his athleticism gives him an edge. Contact doesn’t slow him down, and he rebounds with energy. He can make the simple reads within the offense and has the tools of a long-term starter.
Knecht is averaging 6.8 points on 35.2 percent from deep. He was drafted to shoot. He can do that. But his overall ceiling and two-way impact are different from Kuminga’s.
The Pelicans are bottom half in three-point shooting. Knecht could help. But Kuminga offers more versatility, more upside and a clearer long-term path.
If New Orleans eventually moves Jones, the Warriors can make the stronger offer.
Final Word on the Warriors and Herb Jones
The Pelicans have held onto Herb Jones through years of interest. They value him. They know his impact. But Zion Williamson’s latest long-term injury has put the franchise on unstable ground. Bigger questions are emerging.
If New Orleans reaches a point where reshuffling becomes necessary, Jones would be one of the most valuable names available.
And the Warriors will be right there. They have the need. The roster has the structure. They have a tradeable young piece whose time with the franchise appears to be nearing its natural close. Kuminga’s January 15 eligibility is approaching. The timing aligns.
Elite defenders rarely become available. If this window opens, Golden State wants a chance to climb through it.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Warriors Eyeing Elite Defensive Wing in Potential Move appeared first on Heavy Sports.