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Lakers' Herb Jones Trade Dream Fades
29 Oct
Summary
- Pelicans reluctant to trade Herb Jones despite reduced minutes.
- Lakers previously identified Jones as a coveted trade target.
- New Orleans' asking price is reportedly two first-round picks.
The Los Angeles Lakers may need to find alternative defensive solutions as the New Orleans Pelicans remain unwilling to trade forward Herb Jones. Despite Jones's current role seeing a significant reduction in minutes under new coach Jamahl Mosley, a Pelicans official confirmed to The Stein Line that the team has maintained a high threshold for any offers involving him.
This stance presents a major hurdle for the Lakers, who have been previously linked to Jones as a desired defensive upgrade. Adding to the difficulty, the Pelicans have reportedly set an asking price of two first-round draft picks, a valuation that no team has yet met. Los Angeles, having recently traded away considerable draft capital, lacks the necessary assets to meet this demand before the February trade deadline.
Jones, a former All-Defensive first-team selection, is currently averaging a career-low 17.1 minutes per game, a stark contrast to his previous season's average of 28.4 minutes. While coach Mosley has acknowledged the need to increase Jones's playing time, his team's current reluctance to negotiate signals a potentially long wait for interested teams.
Should Jones's limited minutes persist and New Orleans eventually lower its demands, the situation could shift. However, for now, the Pelicans' firm position on Jones, reinforced by recent reporting, suggests the Lakers will likely have to look elsewhere for defensive reinforcement.
