Lakers weighing move for Herbert Jones, but Pelicans show little interest
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Rival front offices widely believe the Los Angeles Lakers will probe the market for New Orleans Pelicans wing Herbert Jones once he becomes trade-eligible on January 14, league sources told The Athletic. Despite the chatter, New Orleans is reportedly reluctant to part with its premier perimeter defender.
Even if the Pelicans softened their stance, Los Angeles would face an uphill battle assembling an offer. The franchise can trade only one future first-round pick—projected for the 2031 or 2032 draft—and executives no longer view that asset as particularly valuable. Last season’s blockbuster deal for Luka Doncic and billionaire Mark Walter’s subsequent purchase of the team have lowered expectations that the Lakers will tumble down the standings in the coming years, limiting the pick’s perceived upside.
Defensive urgency grows
Jones’ appeal to the Lakers stems from their defensive slide. After surrendering 132 points to San Antonio on Wednesday, Los Angeles sits 21st in defensive rating at 116.7. LeBron James told reporters he is confident the club will improve but emphasized building sound habits, a theme echoed by head coach JJ Redick.
“Our second half against Philly was the most physical we’ve been, particularly off the ball,” Redick said, noting that physicality, proper shifts and sharp closeouts are “the essence of our defense.”
Playoff expectations tempered
During the debut episode of the “Game Over with Max Kellerman and Rich Paul” podcast, James’ longtime agent Rich Paul questioned whether this roster can reach the Western Conference Finals. James declined to forecast postseason results in December, saying the focus must remain on month-to-month improvement.
Smart shines in return
One encouraging sign emerged in Wednesday’s NBA Cup quarterfinal loss: guard Marcus Smart returned from a back injury and poured in 26 points off the bench. He finished plus-2 in 28 minutes, and Spurs players were held to 3-for-11 shooting when Smart was the primary defender. “When he guards, when he talks to us, we listen,” Doncic said. “We just have to follow his lead a little more.”
Source: Hoops Rumors
