The Los Angeles Lakers are off to a strong start this season, sitting at 15-5 and looking every bit like a team that can make noise in the West. But as good as they’ve been-especially during their recent seven-game win streak-there’s a growing sense around the league that they still have one key gap to fill: perimeter defense. And if the Lakers want to make a deep playoff run, that’s a hole they’ll need to patch sooner rather than later.
Offensively, the Lakers are humming. With LeBron James, Luka Dončić, and Austin Reaves leading the charge, this group has a top-five ceiling on that end of the floor.
The ball movement has been sharp, the spacing has improved, and Dončić’s ability to control the tempo has added a new dimension to the Lakers' attack. But defensively?
That’s where things get murky.
So far, Los Angeles hasn’t cracked the top 10 in defensive efficiency at any point this season. That’s not a death sentence, but it’s a red flag-especially when you consider the teams they’ll need to go through in the playoffs.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are young and relentless. The Denver Nuggets are the reigning champs for a reason.
And the Houston Rockets are no longer a pushover. To beat those teams, the Lakers can’t just rely on outscoring them-they’ll need to get stops.
That’s where a name like Herbert Jones enters the conversation.
Jones, currently with the Pelicans, is one of the league’s more underrated defenders-a 6'7" wing with the length, footspeed, and instincts to guard multiple positions. He made the NBA’s All-Defensive First Team for a reason. And for a Lakers team that lacks a true point-of-attack defender, he could be the missing piece.
LeBron, even at 40, is still the defensive quarterback. He sees the floor better than anyone, communicates coverages, and makes timely rotations.
But he can’t be everywhere at once. What the Lakers are missing is someone who can pick up the opposing team’s lead guard 94 feet and make life miserable.
That’s not Dončić’s game. Reaves competes, but he’s not that guy either.
Jones is.
Now, the challenge: can the Lakers actually get him?
That’s where things get complicated. Jones is under contract through 2030 and is making $13.9 million this season.
That’s a manageable number cap-wise, but New Orleans holds the leverage. They don’t have to move him.
And unless they’re actively shopping him, it’s going to take a compelling offer to pry him away.
The Lakers’ most tradeable contracts-Gabe Vincent, Jarred Vanderbilt, Maxi Kleber, and rookie Dalton Knecht-don’t exactly move the needle on their own. Vincent has been hurt, Vanderbilt has struggled to stay on the floor, and Kleber’s value is tied mostly to his shooting and defensive versatility, which has been inconsistent. Knecht has upside, but he’s still an unknown at the NBA level.
Then there’s the draft capital. LA only has one first-round pick available to trade at this deadline, plus a few pick swaps.
But those swaps aren’t likely to be enticing, especially if the Lakers stay competitive with Dončić and James leading the way. That limits their leverage.
So what’s the path forward?
If the Pelicans decide they’re open to moving Jones-and that’s still a big “if”-the Lakers would likely need to package Vincent or Vanderbilt with Knecht and that future first-rounder. Maybe even throw in a swap or two to sweeten the deal. It’s not the kind of blockbuster package that guarantees a yes, but it could be enough if the market for Jones is softer than expected.
And here’s the thing: Jones isn’t just a short-term fix. He’s 27, in his prime, and under contract for several more seasons.
He fits alongside Dončić and Reaves in a long-term core. He gives the Lakers something they desperately need right now, and something they’ll still need when LeBron eventually passes the torch.
In a Western Conference loaded with offensive firepower, the Lakers don’t just need to score-they need to defend. And if they want to give themselves the best shot at hanging another banner, finding a way to add a player like Herbert Jones could be the move that makes all the difference.