The Lakers’ new-look roster may already have another move on the horizon.
After a massive offseason overhaul that brought in nine new faces, Los Angeles is still weighing ways to sharpen a team built around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. One spot that could use another boost is on the wing, and two names from New Orleans have already popped onto the radar: Herb Jones and Trey Murphy.
That interest, though, does not mean either Pelicans wing is actually on the market. New Orleans has reportedly set a steep price, with earlier asking numbers said to be around three first-round picks for Murphy and two for Jones. The catch is simple enough: the Pelicans can ask for whatever they want, but that does not guarantee anyone will meet the number.
And so far, New Orleans has not exactly been working to push either player out the door.
The two wings have taken very different paths early on. Jones has been limited to 20 minutes per game, putting up 6 points while shooting 46.2% from the field and 22.2% from three. Murphy has seen far more floor time at 32.4 minutes a night, and the 26-year-old is averaging 14 points on 46.4% shooting overall and 35.5% from beyond the arc.
For the Lakers, the challenge is obvious: even if the interest is real, the trade chest is thin. Los Angeles controls a 2032 first-round pick and some future swap options, including a 2032 first-round swap, but most of its other future first-rounders are already spoken for.
The contracts they can use to balance deals are also limited. Jarred Vanderbilt, Collin Sexton, Jake LaRavia and Jaden Hardy are among the players who could be moved in salary-matching scenarios.
Even with that in mind, the Lakers’ most urgent need right now is still at backup center. If they can patch that spot early in the season, their floor should climb.
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For a player who missed much of the 2025-2026 season after shoulder surgery, the quick adjustment matters even more. The Lakers have been searching for pieces that can hold up in a playoff setting, and Kesslers early play hints at a bigger role than just rotation depth, with his fit and consistency now becoming part of the larger title conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers Win Is Fueling A Bigger Rotation Debate Without Luka
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What makes the win more interesting is the way it feeds into a larger conversation about how the Lakers can keep building cohesion while shorthanded. The group has reason to feel optimistic about its potential, but games like this also create questions about which lineups deserve more run once everyone is available. For a team trying to sort out roles early, the answer may not be simple. [Read more 🡒]