According to ESPN's Shams Charania on Thursday, the New Orleans Pelicans have reached an early contract extension agreement with Herbert Jones. Jones will receive a three-year contract worth a total of $68 million, with a player option for the 2029/30 season.

The contract extension extends Jones' contract by three years on the basis of the original framework, and the total value also increases to $97 million. ESPN salary expert Bobby Marks added that Jones' salary will increase year by year starting from the 2027/28 season, which will be $20.9 million, $22.5 million and $24.2 million respectively.

Jones, 25, plays as a small forward and was selected by the Pelicans with the 35th pick in the second round in 2021. He has spent four seasons with the Pelicans and has played in 240 regular season games so far, averaging 10.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game, with a shooting percentage of 47.7% and a three-point shooting percentage of 36.6%.

Last season, Jones played only 20 games for the Pelicans due to a torn posterior labrum in his right shoulder, averaging 10.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.9 steals per game. His absence along with Zion Williams and others left the Pelicans with almost no one available, and they finished second to last in the Western Conference with a record of 21 wins and 61 losses.