The Los Angeles Lakers are a very good team right now, as their 17-7 record would indicate. But many feel the Lakers aren’t a truly championship-caliber team, at least not right now.
The team lacks speed, athleticism, perimeter defense and perhaps 3-point shooting. Such deficiencies got exposed by a young San Antonio Spurs squad on Wednesday in the Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinal round when the Spurs continually pushed the pace and picked apart L.A.’s defense to the tune of 27 fast-break points and 17-of-38 3-point shooting in a 132-119 decision.
One player Lakers fans have been hoping the team can trade for is Herbert Jones, a 3-and-D forward who is currently with the New Orleans Pelicans. But even though the Pelicans have the Western Conference’s worst record at 4-22, they’re not looking to trade him, according to Dan Woike of The Athletic.
“While Lakers fans can fantasize about some all-out liquidation of the three-win Pelicans’ roster, team and league sources tell The Athletic that New Orleans is not interested in moving Jones,” Woike wrote. “And considering what LA would have to offer in a deal, expiring contracts and a single first-round pick, the Pelicans almost certainly wouldn’t engage at that price point.
“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.”
Jones’ 3-point shooting has been down this season and last, but he’s known as a plus defender who possesses ample athleticism. At 6-foot-7 and with a seven-foot wingspan, he can play both forward positions, and this season, he has even been spending a substantial amount of time at the 2 spot.
He’s under contract through the 2029-30 season, but he’s making just $13.9 million this season, so if New Orleans decides to reset and is willing to play fair with the Lakers, perhaps they could acquire him at a reasonable price.