Herbert Jones, Lakers, Lakers trade
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Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers passes the ball as he is pressured by Herbert Jones #2 and Jeremiah Fears #0 of the the New Orleans Pelicans during the second quarter of an 2025 Emirates NBA Cup game at Smoothie King Center on November 14, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
No player has been mentioned more as a Los Angeles Lakers trade target by rival scouts and executives than New Orleans wing Herbert Jones, who officially became trade-eligible on Jan. 14. The buzz has been so loud that fans have routinely bombarded the All-Defensive star about the rumors during his team’s home games at the Smoothie King Center.
It turns out Jones wouldn’t mind a move to the Lakers, either. Per Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor, there’s mutual interest between the two sides on a potential trade.
“I’d say there’s interest there on both sides,” O’Connor said on the “Slightly Biased” podcast on Thursday.
“…There are a lot of indications that Jones and his camp would like a move to a contending team. The Lakers are looking for 3&D wings… Herb Jones would be near the top of the list in terms of affordability and game fit in a Luka Doncic future roster.”
Lakers Can’t Match Asking Price
O’Connor noted the Lakers are “dangling” their 2032 first-round pick to teams around the league to try and collect more draft assets (worse pick swaps) in a potential deal for Jones or another quality 3q&D wing.
The Athletic’s Dan Woike reported last month that the Pelicans have set an asking price of at least two unprotected first-round picks for Jones, a price the Lakers can’t match, seeing as they own only one tradeable first-rounder. Woike further noted that the Pelicans had no interest in a potential Lakers trade package of one first-round pick and the expiring deals of Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent or Maxi Kleber.
“Maybe the view of the Lakers’ assets or the Pelicans’ view of Jones will change between now and the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline, but as of now, sources point out, New Orleans would need a whole lot to be convinced otherwise,” Woike reported on Dec. 11.
Lakers Trade Revisited in Offseason?
It’s worth noting that the Lakers will be armed with three first-rounders this summer, including their 2026 pick, if they hold onto their 2032 asset by the NBA trade deadline.
Such a move could allow them to make a more aggressive offer for Herbert Jones or any other true needle-mover they covet over the offseason. While Jones is signed through 2029-30, he’s on a cap-friendly deal and may not disrupt the Lakers’ ambitious plans for 2026 and 2027, when they reportedly plan to pursue a big fish to pair with Doncic.
Besides Jones, other widely reported Lakers trade targets include Miami Heat’s Andrew Wiggins, Sacramento Kings‘ Keon Ellis, Dallas Mavericks‘ Daniel Gafford and most recently, Golden State Warriors‘ Jonathan Kuminga. According to Hardwood Paroxysm’s Matt Moore, the Lakers could also pursue Cleveland Cavaliers’ De’Andre Hunter or Charlotte Hornets’ Miles Bridges in a deal involving Hachimura.
The Lakers desperately need defensive upgrades by the NBA trade deadline. They plummeted to 26th in defensive rating after conceding 135 points to the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday, en route to their third loss in four games.