Jan. 25, 2026, 8:41 p.m. PT
The clock is starting to tick louder for the Los Angeles Lakers as they hope to swing a trade that would fortify their roster for the rest of this season. They need at least one two-way or 3-and-D player at the wing or forward positions, not to mention more speed, athleticism and outside shooting. Some also feel the team needs an upgrade at the center position, particularly on the defensive end.
Keon Ellis, a guard who currently plays for the Sacramento Kings, has frequently been mentioned as a possible trade target for the Lakers. While he may not be an elite defender, he is a good one, not to mention a potent 3-point shooter.
The Kings, who have a 12-35 record, seem to be at least open to the possibility of trading Ellis, and according to Sam Amick of The Athletic, they’re looking for a late first-round draft pick in return for him.
The Lakers only have one future first-round draft pick they can trade right now, per NBA rules, and many feel they wouldn’t send it out for a mere role or complementary player such as Ellis. But Matthew Ogden of Lake Show Life wrote that giving up that pick, as well as a player who was recently taken in the first round but has turned into a disappointment, would be a good price for Ellis.
“Los Angeles’ offer for Ellis may not provide enough immediate value to convince Sacramento to agree to the terms,” Ogden wrote. “It’s the unfortunate reality of competing for a player who has, as Amick reports, around 10 teams in the market for him.
“If the Kings are prioritizing youth and upside in a trade for Ellis, however, there is a reasonable path to the Lakers acquiring him.
“Dalton Knecht and a future first-round pick would give the Kings an instant and long-term influx of promising talent. Though Knecht has struggled to secure playing time in 2025-26, he turned heads prior to the Luka Doncic trade in 2024-25.”
Need a news break? Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!
The Lakers lack serviceable backcourt depth, especially since Gabe Vincent often seems like a liability on the court, and at 6-foot-4, Ellis could potentially be a useful point of attack defender.
However, a first-round pick may be too much to give up for a man who has gotten at least 18 minutes a game of playing time just once in his four NBA seasons. While Ellis has career marks of 46% from the field and 41.5% from 3-point range, he’s at 39.2% overall and 36.4% from downtown so far this season. In 17.4 minutes a game, he’s scoring 5.5 points per game this season.
The belief is that L.A. wants to preserve as much trade flexibility, or, as general manager Rob Pelinka likes to say, “optionality,” for this summer, when two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo could become available.