JJ Reddick, Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers
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JJ Reddick and Luka Doncic dap up during a game against the Mavericks.
Lakers get bad news on top trade target has emerged ahead of the Feb. 5 deadline as NBA insiders report that Los Angeles is unlikely to land its preferred wing defender.
The Los Angeles Lakers remain aggressive on the trade market, but their pursuit of a premier two-way wing appears to be stalling as the New Orleans Pelicans continue to resist all inquiries for Herb Jones, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.
“The market for such wings who can shoot from distance and defend remains quite limited, with New Orleans still resistant to trade interest in both Herb Jones and Trey Murphy III,” Stein wrote Sunday in his Substack newsletter, The Stein Line.
That report confirms earlier coverage from ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel, who noted the Lakers had already reached out to New Orleans to gauge Jones’ availability — only to be met with a firm stance.
“Herb Jones is another player high atop the Lakers’ trade wish list,” Siegel reported. “The Lakers have already held conversations with the Pelicans about Jones’ availability, but they aren’t actively looking to move their defensive-minded wing. Jones’ asking price remains very high and appears out of the Lakers’ price range.”
Why Herb Jones Remains So Coveted — and So Unavailable
Herb Jones, lakers, lakers trade
GettyLuka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers passes the ball as he is pressured by Herbert Jones of the New Orleans Pelicans.
Jones, 27, signed a three-year, $68 million contract extension in July 2025 that runs through the 2028-29 season and includes a player option for 2029-30, representing a total commitment of $97 million over five years. His $13.9 million salary this season is widely viewed by league executives as one of the NBA’s most team-friendly contracts relative to on-court impact.
Although Jones’ offensive numbers are modest — he is averaging 9.8 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists — his defensive value is elite.
He ranks among the league leaders in steals per game at 1.7, sits in the 93rd percentile in deflections and the 96th percentile in turnovers forced, according to Crafted NBA. Over his last 10 games, Jones has averaged 2.5 steals per contest. At 6-foot-7 with a 7-foot wingspan and a career 36.4 percent shooting mark from three-point range, Jones fits the modern blueprint every contender covets.
That explains why Los Angeles, which currently ranks 24th in defensive efficiency, has targeted him so aggressively.
Pelicans’ Slide Without Jones Reinforces His Value
Jones is currently sidelined with a right ankle sprain that was later reclassified as low back spasms, according to the league’s injury report. His absence has coincided with a steep drop-off in New Orleans’ performance.
NOLA.com’s Rod Walker reported that the Pelicans are 5-5 with Jones in the lineup under interim coach James Borrego and just 1-13 when their top defensive player has been unavailable.
“One guy left the lineup, Herb Jones,” Borrego said. “He’s incredible. But that doesn’t excuse our defense. If we’ve got to get Herb back to hold people under 130, that’s unacceptable.”
The correlation has reinforced the Pelicans’ reluctance to entertain offers for Jones.
Lakers’ Asset Limitations Create Structural Barrier
Even if New Orleans were open to listening, the Lakers face structural constraints.
They control only one tradable first-round pick, either in 2030 or 2031, and their pool of young assets is limited, led by rookie Dalton Knecht and a collection of their expiring contracts. That profile pales in comparison to franchises such as Oklahoma City, New York or New Orleans itself, which possess deeper draft reserves and younger blue-chip talent.
The Ringer founder and longtime NBA analyst Bill Simmons recently floated a hypothetical package that would send Knecht, Maxi Kleber and a 2031 first-round pick to New Orleans in exchange for Jones, but league consensus suggests that would fall short.
Why This Stalemate Is Unlikely to Change Soon
From New Orleans’ standpoint, Jones remains under a long-term contract, in his prime, elite defensively and central to the team’s identity. From Los Angeles’ standpoint, he is exactly what the Lakers need, financially attainable and strategically ideal — but functionally inaccessible due to asset constraints.
Unless the Pelicans pivot toward a full rebuild or Jones suddenly becomes available, the Lakers’ pursuit is likely to remain what it is now: logical, persistent and blocked.
Lakers’ Harsh Reality
The Lakers’ desire for a defensive wing is clear. Herb Jones is the prototype.
But prototypes rarely change hands — especially not cheaply.
For now, the Lakers remain in the market.
And Herb Jones remains firmly out of it.