The Los Angeles Lakers have been linked to New Orleans Pelicans defensive ace Herb Jones in consistent trade rumors. It's information that's been shared rather consistently in recent weeks, particularly as the Pelicans continue to lose games and face the reality that they don't have their own first-round draft pick in 2026.
While landing Jones would be a dream outcome for the Lakers, the bigger takeaway is that Rob Pelinka is no longer willing to settle for decent or indifferent defenders.
Jones isn't just one of the best defensive players on the open market, but one of the top defenders in the NBA.