At the start of the season, there were questions about whether or not the Los Angeles Lakers had enough around Luka Doncic to contend in a loaded Western Conference. So far, they are 19-9 through 28 games, which is good enough for the fourth seed in the West.
Doncic has played like an MVP candidate, but the emergence of Austin Reaves, who has developed into a star, has been another big reason for their success. For the first time in the LeBron James era, Los Angeles has not had to be overly reliant on their aging star.
Even with all of their early-season success, the Lakers still have their flaws. Most of them are on the defensive end of the floor, but acquiring this defensive-minded forward should be at the top of LA’s holiday wishlist.
The Lakers must go all-in on Pelicans forward Herb Jones
For the first month of the season, LA was average defensively. They were 15th in defensive rating in November, but they have come crashing down on that end of the floor, and their flaws have been exposed.
So far this month, the Lakers are 28th in defensive rating. Only the Wizards and Jazz, two lottery-bound teams, have posted worse marks. LA is also 28th in net rating.
The Lakers really struggle at the point of attack, and having both Doncic and Reaves on the floor is great for their offense, but their defense suffers. Add in the fact that James is not the same defender he used to be, and Rui Hachimura is also having his struggles, and that leaves LA with multiple subpar defenders. Enter Jones.
Jones has been one of the NBA’s best wing defenders for the last few seasons. He is elite at the point of attack and has the versatility to guard multiple positions. The Lakers had a similar wing last year in Dorian Finney-Smith, but he left for the Rockets in free agency. While he does the same things, Jones would be a huge upgrade.
Jones also averages nearly two steals per game, and he leads New Orleans in deflections with almost four per night. LA would benefit from having a defender who can get offenses off schedule and create live-ball turnovers that can lead to easy transition buckets.
Herb Jones would be the perfect long-term piece for the Lakers
He is under contract for four more seasons, and his three-year, $68 million extension does not kick in until 2027. General manager Rob Pelinka has prioritized financial flexibility for the summers of 2026 and 2027, and not only does Jones accomplish that, but they also do not have to worry about paying him for a while.
Jones alone does not solve the Lakers’ defensive issues, but he would be a huge help. Having one guy that they can stick on the opposing team’s best ball-handler and have him neutralize would go a long way in LA maintaining their footing out West.
