The New Orleans Pelicans have informed interested clubs that forward Herb Jones and several other cornerstone players will not be moved before the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline, according to a Jan. 9 report from league insider Chris Haynes.
Haynes stated that New Orleans has made Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy, Derik Queen, Jeremiah Fears and the 27-year-old Jones unavailable, shutting down speculation surrounding a potential mid-season overhaul.
The decision directly affects the Los Angeles Lakers, who have been monitoring Jones while searching for defensive upgrades. Los Angeles has slipped on that end of the floor compared with last season and is allowing opponents more open looks on the perimeter.
Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka has less than a month to explore alternatives. Historically reluctant to spend significant draft capital on role players, Pelinka would likely have faced a high asking price for Jones; league executives anticipated New Orleans would seek multiple first-round picks.
Los Angeles controls only one tradable first-round selection before 2031, and its perceived value has dropped since Luka Dončić joined the roster. Despite the limited assets, Jones was viewed as a seamless fit alongside Dončić and Austin Reaves, particularly with the Lakers’ three-point shooting concerns — LeBron James is hitting 33.3 percent from deep this season.
New Orleans’ stance is consistent with earlier indications from December that management was reluctant to part with its starting wing, even as the team struggles. With the Pelicans signaling stability, the Lakers and other interested franchises will now turn their attention to different targets before the deadline arrives.
Source: LakersNation.com
