With 24 games in the books to start the 2025-26 NBA season, the Los Angeles Lakers have proven they are one of the best teams in the league and potentially a title contender in a stacked Western Conference. Even though Luka Dončić and company have been lighting up the scoreboards on a nightly basis during the 2025-26 campaign so far, the Lakers are a flawed team defensively, as they definitely struggle on that end of the floor.
Fortunately, the team’s high-powered offense has been able to overshadow its defensive issues; however, these issues will need to be addressed moving forward if this team wants to compete with the best of the best in the West, such as the Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets.
One way to upgrade the defense will be making moves ahead of the NBA trade deadline on Feb. 5, with one player in particular potentially in the team’s crosshairs.
Lakers Targeting Herb Jones?
The New Orleans Pelicans are currently in contention for the distinction of being the worst team in the NBA, having won only four games this season and appearing to be a disaster on the basketball floor, despite having some very talented players who excel on both ends of the floor.
One of those players is Herb Jones, who is one of the best two-way players in the league, as he can stretch the floor with his shooting from deep while also being a game-changer on defense. With a $67,580,892 contract value, he could be an ideal addition to the Lakers’ roster, as per PFSN’s Kendrick E. Johnson:
“Despite struggling with his shot this season, Jones would be a big upgrade over Marcus Smart and Gabe Vincent, who serve in the role as “three and D” guards for the Lakers right now. The first team NBA All-Defensive 2024 member can guard any player in the league on the perimeter and would give the Lakers some of the length and athleticism they desperately need.”
There have been rumors circulating in the league that the Lakers have interest in acquiring Jones, which seems like a smart move that would immediately improve their perimeter defense and bring in another shooter.
However, it appears that the Pelicans brass doesn’t currently have an interest in trading Jones ahead of the deadline, as recently reported by Dan Woike of The Athletic.
“The player most often linked to the Lakers as a target by rival scouts and executives is New Orleans wing Herbert Jones, who cannot be traded until Jan. 14 because he signed a three-year extension with the Pelicans in July,” Woike wrote.
“While Lakers fans can fantasize about some all-out liquidation of the three-win Pelicans’ roster, team and league sources tell The Athletic that New Orleans is not interested in moving Jones. And considering what LA would have to offer in a deal, expiring contracts and a single first-round pick, the Pelicans almost certainly wouldn’t engage at that price point,” he added.
Obviously, this makes things difficult for the Lakers if they are intent on acquiring Jones via trade ahead of the February deadline. Even though the team is supposedly not interested in trading Jones at the moment, it could be a tactic to raise his trade value leading up to the deadline.
However, it also means the Pelicans will be asking for a lot in return for arguably their best defensive players.
Murphy is also another intriguing trade target for the Lakers in New Orleans, but he’ll also likely come with a hefty price tag to get him in a deal.
