The Los Angeles Lakers are officially in the danger zone. After dropping six of their last ten games and struggling to get stops on the defensive end, the pressure is mounting in L.A. to shake things up before the trade deadline. And while the front office would love to bring in a reliable 3-and-D guard or wing, the reality is this: their trade cupboard isn’t exactly stocked.
The Lakers’ wish list is no secret. They’re eyeing players who can defend on the perimeter, knock down threes, and fit alongside LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Austin Reaves.
The problem? They don’t have the kind of assets that make rival GMs pick up the phone with excitement.
Unless they’re willing to part with Reaves - and there’s been no indication they are - the Lakers are working with limited draft capital and role players who aren’t moving the needle much on the trade market.
Two names that have reportedly caught L.A.'s attention are Andrew Wiggins and Herbert Jones. Wiggins, currently with the Miami Heat, is the kind of athletic, switchable wing who fits perfectly in a LeBron-led system.
He can guard multiple positions, space the floor when his shot is falling, and bring playoff experience to the table. But according to league insiders, Miami isn’t eager to make a deal.
The Heat aren’t actively shopping Wiggins, and they haven’t been impressed by what the Lakers have to offer.
Then there’s Herb Jones - a defensive ace with the New Orleans Pelicans who’s become one of the most coveted perimeter stoppers in the league. He’s high on the Lakers’ radar, and there have already been exploratory talks with New Orleans.
But once again, the door doesn’t appear to be open. The Pelicans aren’t looking to move Jones, and even if they were, the asking price is steep - likely too steep for what the Lakers can realistically offer.
With those options looking like long shots, the Lakers may have to dig deeper into the market. One name that’s emerged recently is Keon Ellis of the Sacramento Kings.
Ellis has the kind of athletic profile and defensive mindset the Lakers are targeting, and league sources have linked him to Los Angeles in recent weeks. He’s not a splashy name, but he could be a more attainable option given the Lakers’ current asset pool.
That said, Ellis comes with some question marks. Offensively, he’s been in a slump.
He’s averaging just 4.9 points per game in 16.5 minutes, shooting 37.9% from the field and 34.8% from three - numbers that have dipped in December. Still, there’s some upside here.
Last season, Ellis showed flashes with 8.3 points per game on nearly 49% shooting overall and a scorching 43.3% from deep. If he can rediscover that form, he could be a sneaky value pickup.
The Kings, sitting at the bottom of the Western Conference with a 7-23 record, might be open for business as the February 5 trade deadline approaches. If they decide to start selling off pieces, Ellis could become a realistic target for a Lakers team desperate for perimeter defense and youthful energy.
Bottom line: the Lakers know what they need. But knowing and acquiring are two very different things.
With limited assets and a market short on available 3-and-D wings, Rob Pelinka and company will have to get creative - or hope that internal improvement can help patch the holes. Either way, the clock is ticking in Los Angeles.