The Los Angeles Lakers definitely have the offensive talent to compete with the best of the best. However, the other side of the floor is a different side of the story, and really, their title aspirations will hinge on one thing: how they hold up on defense.
Currently, the team lacks stout defensive personnel, although it is not entirely devoid of them. If they are serious about Banner 18, they will need more.
Which Lakers Target Is Available To Acquire?
One player they have coveted is on the market, but at a steep price.
The Athletic’s Dan Woike revealed that Keon Ellis is available for trade, although he also disclosed the cost it would take for a team like the Lakers to acquire him.
“Sacramento’s Keon Ellis, another player coveted by teams looking for on-ball defensive help, could certainly be traded by the deadline as he enters free agency this summer,” Woike wrote. “League sources believe the current price tag on Ellis is a protected first-round pick.”
Woike elaborated on the pros and cons of trading for someone like Ellis while adding that the Lakers will look into him.
“While the shooting part of the equation is there with Ellis (he’s a career 42% shooter from three-point range), the defensive impact is where the gamble exists. Some people think of Ellis as a defender more suited for creating turnovers than he is at actually slowing down opponents.
“Others who aren’t as high on him have concerns about his size and ability to defend bigger guards. Still, he seems like the kind of player the Lakers will consider this trade season… though they won’t be alone in their pursuit,” Woike wrote.
The Sacramento Kings are reportedly seeking a first-round pick for Keon Ellis, per @DanWoikeSports
“Sacramento’s Keon Ellis, another player coveted by teams looking for on-ball defensive help, could certainly be traded by the deadline as he enters free agency this summer.… pic.twitter.com/ATDkMQW0HC
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) December 19, 2025
Ellis is in the last year of a three-year, $5.1 million contract. The Kings are 6-21 as of Dec. 19, and from the looks of things, they won’t get any better. The upside for them is that, even with how badly everything has gone for them, they still have all their picks and are in a prime position to capitalize on their players’ trade value.
A first-round pick for Ellis is steep because he will be a free agent this summer. Teams don’t give up that much for a flight risk. The Lakers may believe he is worth it, but it would take more than him to fix their defensive woes, which would put them and the Kings at a standstill in trade talks.
However, Ellis may be the cheapest player the Lakers can find on the market. Whether they meet the Kings’ price tag is the real question.
