A new Lakers trade idea has Bronny James at the center of a deal that would land Los Angeles one of the NBA’s best wing defenders.
The proposal sends Bronny James, Jarred Vanderbilt and the Lakers’ 2031 second-round pick to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for Herbert Jones. It was floated by Adel Ahmad, who pointed to the Lakers’ need for more help on the wing after several departures.
“The Lakers have been linked with wing additions this offseason. Jones is an option they can follow up on to get more depth in the forward position following several departures,” Adel Ahmad wrote.
The idea is straightforward enough on paper: the Lakers use James as part of the matching salary and try to pry away a versatile defender who would immediately upgrade that side of the roster. But even with Jones in the mix, it would be a steep ask for Los Angeles.
Jones is one of the better wing defenders in the league, and the Pelicans are said to be seeking a sizable return for him. Bronny James has value as a player, and Vanderbilt can give teams solid defense at times, but that package still may not be enough to get New Orleans to move on from Jones.
For Lakers fans, the appeal is obvious. Adding a player of Jones’ caliber would be a major win. The problem is that the price tag looks like the kind of hurdle that keeps this one firmly in the hypothetical column.
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