The Los Angeles Lakers have opened the season looking like one of the NBA’s most complete teams. Sitting second in the Western Conference, they’ve ridden the offensive brilliance of Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves — a pairing that has quickly evolved into one of the league’s most dynamic backcourts — while LeBron James appears to be settling back into a familiar, dominant rhythm.
On paper, the Lakers look like contenders. In practice, they still see gaps worth addressing.
Even with their strong start, league sources and analysts agree Los Angeles is monitoring the trade market with intent. The goal isn’t to overhaul what’s working, but to elevate a roster that still may not be fully built to survive the Western Conference postseason gauntlet — particularly if dethroning the Oklahoma City Thunder is the ultimate aim.
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The Missing Piece: A True 3-and-D Wing
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The most obvious roster weakness remains on the wing. The Lakers could use a genuine 3-and-D player — someone who can defend elite scorers, switch across positions, and punish defenses just enough from the perimeter to keep the floor spaced.
Placed alongside Dončić, Reaves, James and Deandre Ayton, that archetype becomes exponentially more valuable. It explains why fans and analysts alike have landed on the same conclusion: Los Angeles feels one move away.
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Bill Simmons’ Proposal Brings Herb Jones Into Focus
While the Lakers have been loosely linked to superstar possibilities like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bill Simmons offered a far more grounded — and arguably more realistic — option. On The Bill Simmons Podcast, Simmons didn’t hedge.
“I would trade Herb Jones right now,” Simmons said. “The contract he’s at, literally what the Lakers need.”
Simmons even outlined a framework he believes could be feasible:
“[Dalton] Knecht, [Maxi] Kleber, and a 2031 first. Call it in.”
It’s a proposal that reflects both urgency and restraint — sacrificing future value without gutting the current core.
Why Herb Jones Fits the Lakers’ Blueprint
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Jones isn’t a headline scorer, but that’s precisely why his fit makes sense. The Lakers already have offensive engines. What they lack is a perimeter defender capable of changing games without demanding touches.
Jones checks every box. He’s an elite disruptor who ranks among the NBA’s leaders in steals and deflections, consistently turning defense into offense. His size — 6-foot-7 with a 7-foot wingspan — allows him to guard positions one through four, an invaluable trait in playoff basketball.
Offensively, Jones is reliable enough to keep defenses honest. He owns a career 36.4% mark from three and brings unselfish passing, averaging a career-best 3.3 assists last season.
Just as importantly, his contract is team-friendly. Jones signed a three-year, $68 million extension with New Orleans in July 2025, keeping him under control through 2029–30 with a player option. For a contender, that blend of cost certainty and prime-age production is rare.
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League Voices Echo the Same Need
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Simmons isn’t alone. The Athletic’s Sam Amick recently confirmed Los Angeles is actively hunting this exact profile.
“The Lakers are looking for a 3-and-D-type guy,” Amick said. “Could it be Keon Ellis, Herb Jones, or somebody like that?”
Before the season even tipped off, Lakers insider Jovan Buha suggested a Jones-level defender could swing a potential playoff matchup with Oklahoma City.
“If it’s a Herb Jones, I think they have a real shot,” Buha said. “Maybe I’d pick them to beat OKC.”
Rich Paul’s Warning Looms Large
Even LeBron James’ agent, Rich Paul, has publicly questioned whether the Lakers as currently constructed are ready for the postseason grind.
“I don’t think they have enough to get to the Western Conference Finals,” Paul said on Game Over with Max Kellerman. “Their style of play will be very easy to defend when you get into playoffs.”
Paul’s comments weren’t about star power — Dončić, James and Reaves have been exceptional — but about structure, depth and adaptability. Last season’s first-round loss to Minnesota, where size and physicality overwhelmed the Lakers, still looms as a cautionary tale.
A Defining Decision Ahead
At 17–6, the Lakers don’t need to rush. But championship windows — especially ones involving LeBron James — rarely wait. Oklahoma City’s depth and versatility have set a clear standard in the West, and history suggests star-driven rosters need defensive balance to survive May and June.
If Herb Jones is truly available, this becomes a litmus test for the front office. Making the move could elevate Los Angeles from a dangerous regular-season team into a legitimate Finals threat.
Standing pat, however, means betting that talent alone will solve problems the postseason has repeatedly exposed.
For the Lakers, the margin between contender and champion may come down to one decision — and one defender.