The Clippers were a team to watch in the West before they traded James Harden and Ivica Zubac before the deadline, leaving Kawhi Leonard wondering what happened. Between their play-in (at best) status and the ongoing Aspiration scandal investigation, LA could offload a few more veterans this summer, including Derrick Jones Jr. You know Luka Dončić would like to have him with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Jones, who recently turned 29, will be on an expiring deal next season, making $10.5 million. He just so happens to be the player that the Lakers need, giving them a point-of-attack defender who can knock down outside shots at a decent rate. He's been limited to 25 games this season, missing several weeks with an MCL sprain, but he's shooting 36.5% from deep on 3.4 attempts per contest.
His defense is his bread-and-butter, though. It's just a bonus that he already has a relationship with Luka, since the two helped lead the Mavericks to the NBA Finals in 2024, in what was Jones' one and only season in Dallas. The forward started every playoff game during that miraculous run.
Los Angeles' focus has been building around Dončić since he arrived in Hollywood almost 13 months ago, and reuniting him with Jones is a move the Lakers should want to make, as long as the Clippers are willing to send him to their crosstown rival. They should be after a play-in exit.
Lakers need to try to reunite Luka Dončić with Derrick Jones Jr.
Jones is one of the best perimeter defenders in the league, a talent that would be wasted if he stays with the Clippers. They're in sort of a rebuild mode after constructing a team they thought would be a threat in the West (lol), a decision that could've partly been made in anticipation of a possible looming punishment.
The Lakers already have an idea of which free agents they want to target this summer, headlined by Peyton Watson (a 3-and-D wing), who will be a restricted free agent. Following the trend of needing to surround Dončić and Austin Reaves (assuming he re-signs) with defenders, the front office should've already circled Jones on their wish list.
Dončić supported LA's lack of substantial movement at the deadline, but we all know that he's eager to return to the finals. Jones helped him get there once, and could do so again as soon as next season, depending on how the Lakers play their cards this offseason. Come on, Pelinka, find a way to get this done.