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Pelicans uncertainty could open the door for a major Lakers move, with Herb Jones emerging as a potential defensive answer this offseason.

The New Orleans Pelicans’ season is officially over as they enter the offseason with major questions regarding their roster. Aside from star forward Zion Williamson, no player’s future may be more in question than Herb Jones. As the franchise evaluates their next steps, Jones is emerging as a prime trade candidate, especially with the Los Angeles Lakers looming as a logical fit.

Jones still carries elite defensive value, but his offensive regression could push New Orleans to move him while his market remains strong. Making the Lakers a prime landing spot for Jones regain his status as one of the top defenders in the league.

Pelicans Facing a Critical Herb Jones Decision

Jones remains one of the NBA’s premier perimeter defenders. At his peak, he earned All-Defensive First Team honors and finished top-five in Defensive Player of the Year voting during the 2023-24 season. That version of Jones, paired with 41.8 percent three-point shooting, represented the ideal modern role player. Unfortunately for the Pelicans, he hasn’t been that version since.

Over the last two seasons, Jones has shot just 30.6 percent and 30.9 percent, from beyond the arc, while finishing below 40 percent from the field. This offensive drop-off has quietly become part of the ever-growing issue that is having floor spacing around Zion Williamson.

At the same time, the warning signs are stacking for Jones. Injuries have limited his availability across multiple stretches. His defensive impact, while still strong, has shown slight regression. Along with the aforementioned floor spacing problem that has turned him into a bit of a liability when he and Williamson are on the floor together.

Put it together, and this becomes a timing play. Jones still holds league-wide value as a 27-year-old defensive specialist on a team-friendly deal. That window may not stay open long.

Lakers’ Defensive Needs Make Jones a Clean Fit

The Lakers’ offseason direction is already taking shape. With Luka Doncic as the offensive engine and Austin Reaves expected to return, the priority is clear: build a defensive infrastructure around them. Jones fits that mandate almost perfectly.

He gives Los Angeles something it currently lacks, which is a true point-of-attack defender who can take on elite perimeter assignments nightly. That responsibility would immediately reduce the defensive burden on Doncic and allow the Lakers to stabilize their perimeter rotations.

Offensively, the concerns are real. However, Jones doesn’t need to be a high-usage scorer in this system. His role would center on:

• Cutting and finishing off advantages created by Dončić
• Providing connective passing and off-ball movement
• Maintaining enough spacing to avoid collapsing the offense

His value isn’t built on volume scoring. It’s built on coverage, effort, and defensive versatility. Three-and-D wings don’t carry teams. They support the players who do.

What Does A Herb Jones-Lakers Trade Look Like?

Los Angeles has already shown interest in Jones in the past. Earlier trade discussions reportedly stalled due to a steep asking price that included multiple first-round picks. That price could shift with Jones coming off of another down season.

With New Orleans entering a potential retool or even a larger reset flexibility becomes more important than holding firm on past valuations. The Lakers could structure a deal around contracts like Jarred Vanderbilt and Dalton Knecht.

Jones is owed $14.9 million in 2026-27 and is set to begin a three-year, $67.6 million extension in 2027-28. That long-term cost introduces some risk, especially given his offensive inconsistency. Still, it also offers stability for a team trying to build a sustainable defensive identity.

In the end, everything comes back to one variable: the jumper. If Jones can rediscover anything close to his 2023-24 shooting form, he becomes one of the most valuable role players in the league again. If not, his fit becomes more situational, especially for teams built around spacing-heavy stars.

That uncertainty is exactly why this moment matters. For the Pelicans, this may be the last opportunity to capitalize on Jones’ reputation before his limitations fully define his value. For the Lakers, it’s a chance to solve a major defensive weakness with a proven specialist. The timing lines up on both sides. Now it comes down to whether either team is willing to act on it.