The latest Pistons rumored trade target is the Pelicans' Herb Jones, but he's not an ideal fit in Detroit. Rather than helping fix the Pistons' biggest flaws, Jones would add another unreliable shooter to the mix. His addition will only exacerbate the Pistons' existing problems without adding any new elements to the team.
A Herb Jones trade isn't worth it for the Pistons
Jones was once a premier 3-and-D wing in the NBA, just two seasons ago. In 2024, he earned All-Defense First Team honors while shooting 42% from three. In the time since then, he's regressed and raised significant injury concerns. In that career-best season, Jones played 76 games but only suited up 20 times last season and has appeared in 23 contests (just over half his team's games) so far this season.
Between this season and last, Jones has shot just 32% from three. The last thing the Pistons need is another non-shooter to clog the floor for star guard Cade Cunningham. Teams are already loading up on him as is, and bringing in Jones will just continue that trend. Instead, the Pistons would be wise to seek a shooting upgrade at the deadline who can help fix this glaring issue.
The Pistons already have their established corps of wing defenders: Ausar Thompson, Ron Holland II and Javonte Green. Jones might be more talented than some of those players, but he doesn't fix any outstanding issues for the Pistons. Their team defense on the wing is certainly not the weakness holding them back from higher levels of success.
Additionally, Jones' injury concerns are very real at this point in his career. The Pelicans have been decimated by injuries all season long, and Jones' own absence hasn't helped matters. Detroit has made a point of avoiding injury-riddled players in free agency and trades since Trajan Langdon took over the front office. Even though Langdon played a role in drafting Jones to New Orleans in the first place, he'll find the prospect of trading for him less appealing given the recent health status.
Rather than leaning even further into their defensive identity at the risk of continued poor shooting, the Pistons should search for offensive upgrades that can coexist on the team. If they can improve their halfcourt offense and shooting while maintaining the trademark Detroit defensive identity, it'll make them a deadly team in the playoffs.
And if such an opportunity doesn't come up at this trade deadline, the Pistons might be content to sit back and let their young core develop as well. The growth from Cade and company in the last two seasons has been tremendous. The Pistons front office would probably rather let them continue to improve than trading away significant assets for a player like Herb Jones.