Herbert Jones is the best possible player who could be available that would immediately patch up a ton of issues for the Los Angeles Lakers on the defensive end. The New Orleans Pelicans wing is also going to be out of Rob Pelinka's reach, according to Dan Woike of The Athletic.
Woike discussed that rival scouts and executives are linking Jones as a target for the Lakers front office once he is available for trade on Jan. 14. However, the beat writer then proceeded to crush the dreams of all those in Los Angeles who 'fanaticize about some all-out liquidation' for the Pelicans.
Woike wrote, "Team and league sources tell The Athletic that New Orleans is not interested in moving Jones. And considering what LA would have to offer in a deal, expiring contracts and a single first-round pick, the Pelicans almost certainly wouldn’t engage at that price point."
Lakers' trade assets may hold them back from the defensive star they desperately need
Jones has long been a player of interest here on Lake Show Life. If there was any real opportunity to land the Pelicans defensive star, the Lakers should take it.
Woike sounds unconvinced that it will ever be a real option for Pelinka. The Lakers beat writer added an extra point to why the franchise will have a difficult time in trade negotiations.
Apart from the obvious reality of falling short on player talent, the quality of their draft capital is going down in perception too. That will make any discussions before Feb. 5 increasingly challenging for the Lakers general manager.
Woike highlighted that a future Lakers pick, whether it be 2031 or 2032, is now viewed as less valuable for two majors reasons. One of those would be Luka Doncic. The other is Mark Walter's takeover of the franchise, who officially acquired the majority stake in late October.
The Doncic factor is self-explanatory. The problem with the new Walter regime is his history of competency with the Los Angeles Dodgers. That has created a belief that the Lakers will be kept from the type of freefall that a team acquiring that draft asset would truly covet, according to Woike.
All of this creates a change in the air that makes a Jones trade seem much less viable. Lakers fans will undoubtedly hope that Woike is dead wrong with his assessment, but the beat writer has every reason to believe in what he is saying.