Best trade packages Lakers could offer Pelicans for Herb Jones or Trey Murphy III

Calling the Los Angeles Lakers a poor defensive team this season might actually be generous.

Throughout the month of December, the Lakers ranked 29th in defensive rating, according to Khobi Price of The Southern California News Group, a reality that has fueled speculation linking Los Angeles to New Orleans Pelicans wings Herb Jones and Trey Murphy III ahead of the trade deadline.

Both players would immediately address the Lakers’ biggest weakness, but the obstacle is obvious: there has been little indication that New Orleans is willing to move either player, and the Lakers are widely viewed as lacking the assets required to meet a steep asking price.

Still, if the Lakers decide to go all-in in an effort to salvage their championship hopes, what would a realistic trade offer even look like?

The following scenarios assume the Pelicans would be open to discussions and that the Lakers’ defensive struggles would force a bold front-office decision.

Lakers trade scenario for Herb Jones

Between the two Pelicans wings, Herb Jones is the cleaner defensive fit.

An All-Defensive–caliber player, Jones would instantly become the Lakers’ best point-of-attack defender and fill a role the roster has lacked all season. He is also the Pelicans player most commonly linked to Los Angeles in league chatter.

The issue is price.

New Orleans’ asking point would almost certainly begin with multiple first-round picks. After the blockbuster Luka Dončić trade and the Lakers’ win-now approach, their future picks have lost some appeal. The Stepien Rule further limits which first-rounders Los Angeles can even move.

As a result, the Lakers alone likely do not have enough draft capital to acquire Jones outright. Any realistic deal would probably require a multi-team structure, with additional draft assets coming from a third party.

At minimum, either the Lakers’ 2031 or 2032 first-round pick would have to be sent to New Orleans.

From a player standpoint, Dalton Knecht would almost certainly be included. While he is one of the older second-year players, Knecht still offers scoring upside and could fit a rebuilding timeline. To match salary, an expiring contract such as Gabe Vincent or Jarred Vanderbilt would also be required.

If the Pelicans were to ask for Adou Thiero as part of the deal, the Lakers would be hard-pressed to refuse. An established All-Defensive player typically carries more value than a rookie project, even one with upside.

Lakers trade scenario for Trey Murphy III

The Lakers have been less frequently connected to Trey Murphy III, but his profile may be even more intriguing.

Murphy has flashed potential All-Star upside, pairing elite shooting and athleticism with strong two-way play. Unlike Jones, Murphy would not only upgrade the Lakers’ defense — he would add a legitimate scoring threat alongside Luka Dončić.

That versatility comes at a premium.

Any trade for Murphy would almost certainly require multiple first-round picks, again forcing the Lakers to seek help from additional teams to satisfy New Orleans’ demands.

Murphy’s contract is also significantly larger than Jones’, meaning salary matching becomes more complex. That would likely require two expiring deals from the group of Vincent, Vanderbilt, and Maxi Kleber.

In terms of young talent, the Lakers would almost certainly need to include both Dalton Knecht and Adou Thiero. It’s a steep price, but if Murphy develops into a true star-level player, the cost could be justified.

The Lakers’ trade deadline dilemma

There is little debate that the Lakers’ current roster construction is not championship-caliber.

When healthy, the team can outscore opponents, but that approach is unlikely to hold up in the playoffs without a dramatic defensive improvement. The problem is that Los Angeles simply does not control the kind of asset war chest typically required to swing a season-altering trade.

Even so, that reality shouldn’t prevent the Lakers from remaining active in trade discussions.

If the defense continues to crater, the front office may have no choice but to explore ambitious, creative packages — especially if Herb Jones or Trey Murphy III become even remotely available.

Whether a deal is feasible or not, the Lakers’ need is clear — and the deadline may force them to find out just how aggressive they’re willing to be.