The Golden State Warriors are running out of clean explanations.
At 13–15 and coming off three straight losses, the season has shifted from uneven to concerning. The West has not waited for Golden State to stabilize, and the rotation has yet to find a reliable defensive identity on the wing.
With Stephen Curry still playing at an elite level and the margin for error shrinking, the Warriors’ front office is under pressure to identify a move that impacts games immediately, not hypothetically.
One idea gaining traction in league conversations involves the New Orleans Pelicans and defensive stopper Herb Jones.
Why the Warriors Would Prioritize Herb Jones
GettyPelicans forward Herbert Jones plays defense. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Jones does not solve Golden State’s offense. That is not the appeal.
He solves something more urgent. Containment. Physicality. Defensive reliability in matchups that have repeatedly exposed the Warriors this season.
Jones is one of the league’s most disruptive perimeter defenders. He can guard across positions, generate turnovers without gambling, and survive in high-leverage playoff possessions. For a team that has struggled to string together stops, his impact would be immediate.
This is not about adding another scorer. It is about restoring defensive credibility.
Golden State Trade Talks Start With Jonathan Kuminga
Any realistic Warriors conversation begins with Jonathan Kuminga.
Kuminga remains Golden State’s most viable trade chip, pairing upside with contract flexibility. His talent is clear, but his role next to Curry has never fully settled, and his long-term fit within a win-now structure remains uncertain.
A Kuminga-centered framework for Jones has been floated previously by Jedd Pagaduan of Clutch Points, underscoring the reality that Golden State would need to sacrifice upside to acquire defensive certainty.
For New Orleans, Kuminga would not have to be the finished product. He could be developed, rerouted, or repositioned depending on how the Pelicans shape their next phase.
Warriors’ Defensive-First Package for Herb Jones
GettyJonathan Kuminga expects to be traded from the Golden State Warriors before the deadline, and new trade suitors have emerged for the forward.
Warriors would receive:
Herb Jones
Pelicans would receive:
Jonathan Kuminga
One future first-round pick
One additional first-round pick swap
This is the type of offer that at least opens the door.
Jones is under contract for multiple seasons, entering his prime, and already proven in playoff-level defensive assignments. That security elevates his price, even without offensive polish.
Golden State would not be buying upside. They would be buying reliability.
Why the Cost Looks Different Than Other Defensive Trades
Jones is not a rental. He is not nearing decline. And he is not limited to a single matchup type.
That separates him from past defensive specialists moved at the deadline. His age, contract, and versatility push him into a different tier entirely.
For the Warriors, that raises a difficult question. Does adding an elite defender meaningfully change their ceiling this season, or does it merely stabilize a slipping campaign?
That calculation matters.
Why the Warriors Might Still Consider It
Golden State still needs scoring help, but this trade would be about something else. It would be about raising the floor when shots stop falling and possessions start to matter more.
Jones would do that. Nightly. Quietly. Without demanding touches or disrupting the offense.
He would not fix everything. But he would change the texture of games the Warriors have been losing, especially the ones that turn on defense and execution late.
At this stage of the season, that kind of stability may be the clearest form of progress available.
Sometimes the most aggressive move is choosing certainty over upside.
For the Warriors, Herb Jones represents exactly that kind of decision.
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