Lakers Eye Defensive Reinforcements: What It Would Take to Acquire Herb Jones or Trey Murphy III

The Los Angeles Lakers have long been known for their offensive firepower, but the 2025‑26 season has exposed a glaring weakness: defense. For December alone, the Lakers ranked 29th in defensive rating, one of the lowest marks in the NBA, according to Khobi Price of the Southern California News Group. This vulnerability has not gone unnoticed, and the team has been linked to two high-profile targets in New Orleans Pelicans wings: Herb Jones and Trey Murphy III.

Both players offer distinct skill sets that could help the Lakers shore up their defense and, in Murphy’s case, also boost their scoring. But pulling off a trade for either—or both—before the NBA trade deadline would require careful planning, creative roster moves, and the willingness to give up key assets.

Why the Lakers Are Targeting New Orleans Wings

Los Angeles’ defensive struggles this season have been well-documented. While the Lakers can compete offensively when Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis are healthy, their perimeter defense has repeatedly failed to contain opposing wings, giving up open shots and late-game baskets.

• Herb Jones is widely regarded as one of the league’s top defenders, capable of guarding multiple positions, disrupting passing lanes, and providing elite on-ball pressure.

• Trey Murphy III pairs defensive versatility with offensive explosiveness, offering the Lakers a two-way threat who could complement Doncic and the team’s existing scorers.

While both players would clearly improve Los Angeles’ roster, the challenge is whether the Pelicans would even entertain a trade and if the Lakers have sufficient assets to meet New Orleans’ asking price.

Potential Trade Scenario: Herb Jones

Among the two targets, Herb Jones has been most frequently linked to the Lakers. Acquiring Jones would address Los Angeles’ defensive problems immediately, giving them a point-of-attack lockdown defender to disrupt opposing wings.

Projected Trade Cost for Jones

Reports indicate that the Pelicans’ asking price could start with multiple first-round picks. Given the Lakers’ recent Luka Doncic trade, their stock of future first-round selections is limited. Furthermore, NBA rules, including the Stepien Rule, restrict how far into the future teams can trade first-round picks, making it challenging for Los Angeles to satisfy New Orleans entirely on draft assets alone.

To make a Jones deal work, the Lakers would likely need:

• Draft Picks: Either the 2031 or 2032 first-round pick would probably be included. Additional picks from a third team might be required to sweeten the deal.

• Players:

  • Dalton Knecht, a second-year wing with potential upside, could be packaged as part of a rebuild-focused deal for New Orleans.

  • Expiring contracts, such as Gabe Vincent or Jarred Vanderbilt, would help match salary requirements.

  • Adou Thiero could also be included, though as an all-defensive player he would be more valuable than a rookie in the trade.

This combination of picks, potential, and expiring contracts represents a high but plausible cost to acquire an All-Defensive caliber wing like Jones.

Potential Trade Scenario: Trey Murphy III

While Herb Jones is a defensive anchor, Trey Murphy III offers the Lakers the potential to improve both defense and scoring. Murphy has demonstrated flashes of All-Star-level talent, providing versatility on offense, long-range shooting, and the ability to create off the bounce.

Projected Trade Cost for Murphy

Murphy’s higher salary compared to Jones would necessitate a more intricate trade structure:

• Multiple first-round picks would likely need to be involved, similar to the Jones scenario, possibly requiring collaboration with another team to meet New Orleans’ demands.

• Expiring contracts from the Lakers’ roster—likely two among Vincent, Vanderbilt, or Maxi Kleber—would be included to match salary.

• Players: Both Knecht and Thiero would likely need to be packaged, representing the Lakers’ willingness to give up future potential for a more immediate impact.

Murphy’s upside could justify the price if the Lakers view him as a secondary scoring option alongside Doncic, capable of improving both their offense and defense in preparation for the playoffs.

Trade Deadline Considerations

The Lakers face a critical trade deadline strategy this season. Their roster, even at full health, is not championship-caliber defensively. While they can outscore opponents in the regular season, playoff basketball emphasizes stopping star wings and making defensive stops—areas where Los Angeles has struggled.

Despite the desire to acquire Jones or Murphy, the Lakers’ current assets are limited, which poses a major challenge:

• They lack sufficient high-value first-round picks to satisfy New Orleans entirely.

• Many of their tradeable players are young or defensive-minded, which the Pelicans may prefer to retain for rebuilding.

• Salary-matching requirements further complicate potential trades, particularly for Murphy.

That said, the Lakers are likely to monitor developments closely. If New Orleans signals a willingness to engage in talks or the market for defensive wings becomes more competitive, Los Angeles could make a move to jump into the Jones or Murphy sweepstakes.

Strategic Implications for the Lakers

Acquiring either player would represent a major step toward immediate competitiveness:

• Herb Jones: Instantly transforms perimeter defense, giving LeBron and Davis more support and reducing the defensive burden on Doncic.

• Trey Murphy III: Adds scoring depth and defensive versatility, creating a more balanced roster capable of playoff runs.

However, both scenarios require sacrificing future assets or young talent, representing a classic “win-now vs. rebuild” trade-off. The Lakers will need to balance the short-term goal of improving their playoff chances with the long-term impact on roster flexibility.

Conclusion: Monitoring the Market

As the NBA trade deadline approaches, the Lakers’ pursuit of Herb Jones or Trey Murphy III will be a storyline to watch. While neither trade is guaranteed, both are feasible with creative solutions involving picks, expiring contracts, and player packages.

Ultimately, the Lakers’ front office must weigh the immediate defensive improvement against the cost in future assets and roster flexibility. With playoff contention on the line, one thing is certain: Los Angeles will need to be aggressive, strategic, and nimble if they hope to address their defensive shortcomings and make a serious run in 2026.