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Desmond Bane tries to shake free from Lakers guard Austin Reaves.
One of the NBA’s worst-kept secrets is no longer a secret at all: the Los Angeles Lakers are actively searching for a 3-and-D wing to stabilize a defense that ranks 24th in the league — and New Orleans Pelicans standout Herb Jones sits at the very top of their wish list.
The problem? The Pelicans have no intention of making him available on anything resembling a discount.
According to multiple reports, New Orleans has set a prohibitively high asking price for the 27-year-old defensive ace, effectively closing the door on an in-season deal with the Lakers and signaling that any real movement on Jones may not happen until the offseason — if at all.
Pelicans Set ‘Desmond Bane-Level’ Trade Price for Herb Jones
The Athletic’s Dan Woike reported that New Orleans has made its stance clear: Jones will not be moved unless the return resembles the type of package Memphis received for Desmond Bane — meaning multiple premium assets, not a salary-matching convenience trade.
“Let’s start by talking about Jones, a player who so obviously would help the Lakers that it makes sense that they’ve checked on his availability,” Woike wrote. “Guess what? So have a bunch of other teams. And whether it’s posturing or genuine, the Pelicans have shown no interest in trading Jones for anything less than a Desmond Bane-level haul.”
That benchmark is a steep one.
The Memphis Grizzlies traded Bane to the Orlando Magic in a blockbuster deal in June 2025, sending the sharpshooting guard to Orlando in exchange for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four unprotected first-round picks, and a future first-round pick swap — a package that signaled a retooling phase for Memphis and a bold championship push by the Magic.
In other words, New Orleans is signaling it would only consider moving Jones for a franchise-altering return.
Why the Lakers Can’t Meet the Asking Price — Yet
Herbert Jones, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Pelicans, Lakers, Thunder
GettyShai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder is defended by Herbert Jones of the New Orleans Pelicans.
Woike added that New Orleans’ new front office has little incentive to compromise.
“This stuff only opens up more options for New Orleans in the summer (when the Lakers, say, could trade multiple draft picks for Jones if they really want him),” Woike continued.
Under current NBA trade rules, the Lakers have access to only one first-round pick (in either 2031 or 2032) that can be traded during the season. That reality alone makes it impossible for Los Angeles to construct anything resembling a “Bane-level” package.
However, that math changes dramatically this summer.
Once the league calendar resets, the Lakers could have access to as many as three movable first-round picks — while also holding an estimated $50 million in cap space. That combination has league executives expecting Los Angeles to preserve its assets now to pursue a more significant roster reshaping later.
As ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel reported in December, Jones remains a top Lakers target — just one that’s currently unreachable.
“Herb Jones is another player high atop the Lakers’ trade wish list, especially ahead of this year’s trade deadline,” Siegel reported. “But Jones’ asking price remains very high, and he appears to be out of the Lakers’ price range in terms of assets.”
Why Herb Jones Is So Coveted Across the NBA
It is not difficult to understand why New Orleans has put a Desmond Bane-level price tag on one of its top wings.
Jones, 27, signed a three-year, $68 million extension in July 2025 that runs through the 2028-29 season, with a player option for 2029-30 — effectively locking him in on a five-year, $97 million deal that now looks like one of the league’s best values.
His offensive production is modest — 9.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game — but his defensive impact is elite.
Jones ranks top-five in steals (1.7 per game), sits in the 94th percentile in deflections, and the 95th percentile in turnovers forced, according to Crafted NBA. At 6-foot-7 with a 7-foot wingspan and a career 36.2% shooting mark from three-point range, he fits the exact prototype modern contenders prioritize: a switchable, disruptive defender who doesn’t compromise spacing.
Lakers’ Defense Remains the Trade Deadline Priority
For Los Angeles, the appeal is obvious. The Lakers have struggled to consistently contain elite wings and guards.
Jones would not solve everything — but he would immediately upgrade the Lakers’ most glaring weakness.
For now, though, the price is too steep and the timing too early.
That Desmond Bane-level price reflects not just Jones’ defensive value, but also the scarcity of elite two-way wings under long-term, team-friendly contracts.
The Lakers may want Jones. He may fit the Lakers perfectly. But until the asset picture changes, New Orleans holds all the leverage — and appears more than content to keep one of the league’s most valuable defensive specialists right where he is.