The Los Angeles Lakers are rolling. Sunday’s 133-121 win over the New Orleans Pelicans marked their seventh straight victory, and it’s not just the wins piling up-it’s how they’re doing it. With LeBron James sidelined for much of the season due to sciatica, the Lakers have leaned heavily on Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves-and the results speak volumes.
Dončić, at just 26, is putting together an MVP-caliber campaign, averaging 35.1 points and 9.2 assists per game. He’s been the engine of this offense, orchestrating possessions with his signature blend of vision, strength, and shot-making.
But he hasn’t been doing it alone. Reaves has taken a massive leap, averaging 28.8 points and 6.8 assists-numbers that should all but lock him into his first All-Star appearance.
Together, they’ve formed one of the most potent offensive duos in the league.
But here’s the thing: as good as this Lakers offense has been, there’s a clear gap on the other end of the floor. The team currently ranks 17th in defensive rating (114.9), and if they’re serious about contending deep into the postseason, that’s a number that needs to come down. Which brings us to the growing buzz around a potential trade target: Herb Jones.
Jones, a 2024 All-Defensive First Team selection, is exactly the type of player who could elevate this Lakers team from dangerous to downright scary. At 6-foot-7, Jones has the length, instincts, and defensive IQ to guard multiple positions and disrupt opposing offenses. He’s averaging 9.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.4 steals this season in 16 games for the Pelicans, though his 47.9% effective field goal percentage leaves room for improvement on the offensive end.
Still, his value lies in his ability to guard the league’s best wings-something the Lakers sorely need. With Dončić shouldering a massive offensive load, pairing him with a defensive-minded wing like Jones would help mask some of Luka’s limitations on that end and give L.A. a more balanced attack.
There’s been talk around the league-most notably from Kevin O'Connor-about the Lakers potentially putting together a package that includes Gabe Vincent, rookie Dalton Knecht, and a future first-round pick to land Jones. It’s a bold move, but one that makes sense when you look at the bigger picture.
Knecht, the 17th overall pick in the 2024 draft, has struggled to find his footing early in his second season. He’s a shoot-first wing who could appeal to a Pelicans team that may be looking to retool with younger talent. For the Lakers, moving on from a developing player like Knecht in exchange for a proven defender like Jones could be the kind of win-now gamble that championship teams make.
Jones has dealt with injuries over the past few seasons, and that’s a factor the Lakers would need to weigh. But if he’s healthy-and if he can return to his All-Defensive form-he could be a game-changer for a team that already looks like a legitimate threat out West.
Rob Pelinka and the Lakers front office have some decisions to make. They’ve already got one of the league’s most dynamic offensive trios in Dončić, Reaves, and a (hopefully soon) returning LeBron. But if they want to turn this hot streak into a deep playoff run, adding a player like Herb Jones might be the missing piece.
The Lakers have momentum. Now it’s about maximizing it.