Top trades Lakers must offer Pelicans for Herb Jones, Trey Murphy III

Say it is Los Angeles Lakers have been a bad defensive team this season would be a huge understatement. In December, the Lakers were essentially at the bottom of the league in terms of defensive rating, The 29th to be exactaccording to Khoba Price of The Southern California News Group. The Lakers’ defensive issues are largely why they are tied with the New Orleans Pelicans Herb Jones and Trey Murphy III before the trade deadline.

Either Herb Jones or Trey Murphy would bolster the Lakers’ defense, but one of the big questions is that there’s no real indication whether The Pelicans would seriously entertain for both by the deadline. Not only that, but the Lakers aren’t thought to have enough assets to match what would likely be a high asking price for either.

But let’s say the Lakers decide to go all-in for Jones, Murphy, or even both. What would a potential offer look like that would even prompt the Pelicans to pull the trigger and essentially start a rebuild? The following ideas assume the Pelicans will be receptive to either Jones or Murphy, and that the Lakers’ defensive woes will force them to make big trades.

Lakers trade for Herb Jones

While either Jones or Murphy would improve the Lakers’ defense, Jones is an all-around caliber player and would immediately become the team’s best offensive defender. Jones was also the player most linked to the Lakers between the Pelicans’ two wings.

Although many believe that Jones is ultimately a dream for the Lakershere’s what a potential deal could look like. The Pelicans’ asking price likely starts at multiple first-round picks. After the trade of Luka Doncic and the Lakers’ desire to compete now, their future first-round pick likely lost value. And under the Stepien Rule, the Lakers are limited in which future first-round picks they can trade.

The Lakers themselves don’t have the necessary pick in terms of what it would take to acquire Jones. If they could get another team or two into a deal who could send picks to the Pelicans, it could work. But right now, the Lakers’ first-round pick in 2031 or 2032 would be dealt to New Orleans.

As far as players go, Dalton Knecht would undoubtedly return to the Pelicans. Although he is one of the older second-year players, he gives the Pelicans a player with some potential to be part of a rebuild. And an expiring contract, either Gabe Vincent or Jarred Vanderbilt, would also have to be part of any potential trade. If the Pelicans also want Adou Thier, a defensive end is worth more than a rookie with potential.

Lakers trade for Trey Murphy III

The Lakers aren’t exactly mentioned in trade rumors as a potential suitor for Murphy. And where Murphy differs from Jones is that Murphy has shown he’s an All-Star-caliber prospect with an explosive offense, and has the defense to go along with it.

Murphy would not only improve the Lakers’ defense, but would bring another scoring option to run alongside Luka Doncic. So what would a potential Murphy trade look like? For starters, multiple first-round picks would have to be included in a return to the Pelicans. Again, the Lakers will need help from other teams to meet that demand.

Murphy’s contract is significantly higher than Jones’, so the Lakers will have to come up with salary. That likely means two contracts expire between the trio of Vincent, Vanderbilt and Maxi Kleber. And that also means the Lakers likely have to give up both Knecht and Tierra. But if Murphy really is another All-Star talent, he’s worth the price.

Lakers trade deadline

There’s no question that the current iteration of the Lakers roster isn’t good enough to truly compete for a championship this season. The defense just isn’t there. When a team is fully healthy, it can outscore teams to wins, but it won’t do so in the playoffs.

The only big problem is that the Lakers don’t really have the wherewithal to make a deal that would catapult them to contender status in just a few months. But that doesn’t mean the Lakers shouldn’t continue to monitor the market and be ready to jump on a potential Jones or Murphy sweepstakes.