{"id":341984,"date":"2025-12-10T23:52:10","date_gmt":"2025-12-10T23:52:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/341984\/"},"modified":"2025-12-10T23:52:10","modified_gmt":"2025-12-10T23:52:10","slug":"nba-trade-rumors-los-angeles-lakers-linked-to-68-million-new-orleans-pelicans-superstar-in-blockbuster-move-to-pair-with-luka-doncic-nba-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/341984\/","title":{"rendered":"NBA trade rumors: Los Angeles Lakers linked to $68 million New Orleans Pelicans superstar in blockbuster move to pair with Luka Doncic | NBA News"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"NBALuka Doncic. Image via: Kelsey Grant\/ Getty Images The Los Angeles Lakers, standing at 17-6 and eyeing the Western Conference crown, are gaining major traction in league-wide trade chatter as speculation mounts around pairing Luka Don\u010di\u0107<\/a> with New Orleans Pelicans wing Herb Jones. The rumor intensified after Bill Simmons described the move as an \u201ceasy\u201d pickup for LA, especially with the Pelicans sinking to a 3-22 record and expected to entertain offers. With Don\u010di\u0107 delivering another high-powered season, the addition of Jones could reshape the Lakers\u2019 title trajectory almost overnight.<\/p>\n

How the Proposed Trade Would Work<\/p>\n

Simmons\u2019 suggested structure is simple but impactful: \u2022 The Los Angeles Lakers would send rookie scorer Dalton Knecht, veteran stretch-big Maxi Kleber, and a 2031 first-round pick to New Orleans. \u2022 In return, LA would acquire Herb Jones, a two-way wing widely regarded as one of the league\u2019s premier perimeter defenders.Herb Jones is in the first year of a three-year, 68-million-dollar extension that runs through the 2029-30 season, averaging about $22.7 million annually. For a player with elite defensive value, that number is considered a bargain. Knecht offers the Pelicans a youthful scoring option as a 2024 lottery pick, Kleber provides immediate frontcourt depth, and the future first-rounder aligns with New Orleans\u2019 rebuilding direction during a difficult stretch.<\/p>\n

Why Herb Jones Fits the Los Angeles Lakers\u2019 Needs<\/p>\n

\"New<\/p>\n

New Orleans Pelicans Herb Jones (Image via Getty)<\/p>\n

Herb Jones brings a defensive edge the Los Angeles Lakers have been chasing since losing Dorian Finney-Smith, and he does it with high efficiency on both ends. He shoots 36.6 percent from three for his career and routinely guards top scorers like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jamal Murray. His instincts show in his 1.6 steals per game for his career, and his ability to disrupt actions off the ball meshes perfectly with Don\u010di\u0107\u2019s high-usage playmaking.A defensive-minded wing next to Don\u010di\u0107, LeBron James, Austin Reaves, and DeAndre Ayton would balance the roster while giving LA a more versatile counter against elite offenses. NBA executives have also supported the idea publicly, noting how well Jones fits the Lakers\u2019 identity in the JJ Redick era.<\/p>\n

Herb Jones Key Player Stats<\/p>\n

SeasonGPMPGPTSREBAPGSTLBLK3P% 2022 78 29.9 9.5 3.8 2.1 1.7 0.8 33.7% 2023 66 29.6 9.8 4.1 2.5 1.6 0.6 33.5% 2024 76 30.5 11 3.6 2.6 1.4 0.8 41.8% 2025 20 32.4 10.3 3.9 3.3 1.9 0.5 30.6% Career 240 30.2 10.1 3.8 2.5 1.6 0.7 36.6%Jones\u2019 2024 shooting spike and consistent defensive play make him one of the most attractive two-way wings on the market.<\/p>\n

Why New Orleans Might Entertain the Deal<\/p>\n

At 3-22, the Pelicans are sliding toward a full reset. Jones, despite his value, may not be central to a long-term rebuild. The proposed trade provides them with: \u2022 A young scoring wing in Knecht \u2022 An expiring or movable frontcourt piece in Kleber \u2022 A future first-round pick \u2022 Flexibility to reshape the roster without sacrificing core starsFor a team battling one of the league\u2019s worst records, this move accelerates asset accumulation without locking them into long-term salaries.<\/p>\n

Impact on Luka Don\u010di\u0107\u2019s Ceiling<\/p>\n

Luka Don\u010di\u0107 is averaging 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 7.7 assists, and 1.8 steals on 45\/37\/78 splits over 50 games last season. His offensive gravity demands defenders who can space the floor and cover elite scorers on the other end. Jones checks every box, particularly in defensive versatility, where metrics place him in the 97th percentile for defensive impact and the 99th percentile in lineup portability.Pairing Don\u010di\u0107 with a wing who thrives on switches and off-ball disruption could elevate the Los Angeles Lakers’ entire system. It mirrors the formula that helped Don\u010di\u0107 thrive in Dallas with strong defensive forwards, only now complemented by LeBron\u2019s experience and Ayton\u2019s interior presence.<\/p>\n

Pros and Cons of the Proposed Trade<\/p>\n

Pros for the Los Angeles Lakers<\/p>\n

\"Kyrie<\/p>\n

Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic (Image via Getty).<\/p>\n

\u2022 Significant upgrade in perimeter defense during a title push \u2022 Jones thrives next to high-usage stars and excels in switch-heavy systems \u2022 Team-friendly contract fits within LA\u2019s timeline as LeBron ages and Don\u010di\u0107 peaks<\/p>\n

Cons for the Los Angeles Lakers<\/p>\n

\u2022 Lose Knecht\u2019s scoring upside \u2022 Surrendering a future first-rounder reduces long-term maneuverability \u2022 Jones\u2019 recent injury concerns, including a torn labrum, introduce risk<\/p>\n

Pros for the New Orleans Pelicans<\/p>\n

\u2022 Acquire assets ideal for a rebuilding team \u2022 Knecht offers scoring promise \u2022 Kleber provides flexible minutes or future trade value<\/p>\n

Cons for the New Orleans Pelicans<\/p>\n

\u2022 Give up one of the league\u2019s most versatile defenders \u2022 Lose a key piece who could still be part of a future playoff core<\/p>\n

My Two Cents on This Mock Trade<\/p>\n

If this deal materializes, the Lakers emerge as clear winners. Jones addresses LA\u2019s most pressing roster gap while amplifying Don\u010di\u0107\u2019s strengths. The trade positions them not just as contenders but potentially as favorites, blending Don\u010di\u0107\u2019s creation with Jones\u2019 defensive sharpness and the leadership of LeBron James.For New Orleans, the move makes sense within a rebuilding framework, though the loss of an All-Defensive caliber talent is significant. The value is fair, but the upgrade for LA is undeniable.Also read: NBA trade rumors: Golden State Warriors predicted to land $186 million Milwaukee Bucks superstar to form Big 3 with Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler<\/a>This proposed swap offers Hollywood-level stakes: a defensive menace joining forces with a generational offensive engine. It might be the spark that pushes the Lakers from strong contenders to championship frontrunners.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Luka Doncic. Image via: Kelsey Grant\/ Getty Images The Los Angeles Lakers, standing at 17-6 and eyeing the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":341985,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[64],"tags":[87027,1055,3014,355,32803,6932,99],"class_list":["post-341984","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nba","tag-herb-jones","tag-los-angeles-lakers","tag-luka-doncic","tag-nba","tag-nba-trade-rumors","tag-new-orleans-pelicans","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/341984","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=341984"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/341984\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/341985"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=341984"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=341984"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=341984"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}