The Los Angeles Lakers have entered the final stage of the 2025-26 trade season.
The franchise will have the rest of Wednesday and part of Thursday to make a decision that will help shape the rest of the season.
In a recent report from The Athletic’s Dan Woike, it was revealed that a 28-year-old forward who played alongside Luka Doncic in the 2024 NBA Finals (Dallas Mavericks) is an asset the Lakers are considering trading for.
“According to league sources, the Lakers have been linked to virtually every defensive wing on the market, including Golden State’s Jonathan Kuminga, the (Los Angeles) Clippers’ Derrick Jones Jr., and Chicago’s (Bulls) Isaac Okoro,” Woike reported Wednesday.
While Jones is inactive due to injury, he’s the type of 3-and-D asset the Lakers are looking for. The UNLV product is a lanky, above-the-rim athlete who fills his lane perfectly in transition, provides stability from beyond the arc, and gets after it on the defensive end.
Jones is averaging 10.4 points and 1.1 blocks per game with the Clippers this season, shooting 55.6% from the field and 40.0% from deep.
Throw in the fact that Jones has already succeeded with Doncic as his teammate, and it’s clear that trading for Jones would be a roster-bolstering move for the Lakers if both sides ever agree to a deal.
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