The Lakers may be poking around the trade market for wing help, but if their sights are set on New Orleans’ Trey Murphy III or Herb Jones, they might want to look elsewhere - or at least come armed with a blockbuster offer.
Despite the steady stream of speculation tying Murphy and Jones to Los Angeles, league insider Ramona Shelburne threw some cold water on that narrative this week. Speaking on Mason & Ireland, Shelburne made it clear: the Pelicans aren’t eager to part with either player unless someone absolutely blows them away.
And there's good reason for that. New Orleans owes a first-round pick to Atlanta, so finishing near the bottom of the standings is not an option they can afford. That makes keeping key contributors like Murphy and Jones even more important - especially with the team showing signs of life despite a rocky start.
“I don’t think the Pelicans are thinking about trading Herb Jones or Trey Murphy,” Shelburne said. “Unless you blow them away with an offer... two first-round picks and a good young player, then you're talking.”
That’s a steep price, and one the Lakers aren’t currently positioned to pay. While they hold first-round picks in 2026, 2028, and 2030, they don’t have the kind of young, high-upside player New Orleans would likely insist on in return. As it stands, the Lakers’ interest feels more hypothetical than realistic.
Murphy and Jones are the kind of players teams want to build around, not send packing. Murphy, at 25, is coming off a breakout year and continues to deliver on both ends.
Through 28 games, he’s averaging 20.8 points, 6.3 boards, 3.5 assists, and 1.7 steals while shooting nearly 50% from the field and 36.5% from deep. That’s not just solid - that’s the profile of a rising star.
Jones, 27, brings elite defensive energy every night and adds enough offensively to make him one of the league’s more valuable two-way wings. He’s averaging 9.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and matching Murphy with 1.7 steals per game. He’s the kind of glue guy championship teams crave - and the Pelicans know it.
Even with an 8-22 record, New Orleans is showing signs of a turnaround, riding a five-game win streak into Tuesday night’s matchup with the Cavaliers. That momentum only strengthens their resolve to hold onto core pieces like Murphy and Jones, especially when the trade market isn’t offering the kind of return that justifies breaking up the foundation.
Around the league, executives believe the Pelicans - under the leadership of Joe Dumars in basketball operations - aren’t in the business of making desperation moves. They’re listening, sure, but they’re not shopping. And when it comes to Murphy and Jones, the asking price is sky-high for a reason.
Meanwhile, the Lakers - sitting at 19-7 - are still in evaluation mode. They’re keeping tabs on the market, but the reality is they’re limited in what they can offer. Without the draft capital or young talent to push a deal over the top, their ability to land a top-tier wing like Murphy or Jones is more dream than reality at this point.
They’ll face the Suns (15-13) on Tuesday night before returning home for a Christmas Day showdown with the Rockets (17-9). And unless something changes drastically in the coming weeks, it’s looking more and more like they’ll be rolling into the second half of the season with the roster they’ve got.
Bottom line: Murphy and Jones are still hot names in trade talks, but don’t expect them to land in L.A. anytime soon. The Pelicans are holding their cards tight - and for good reason.