The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the best teams in the Western Conference. Right now, they sit fourth in a very crowded Western Conference. Offense is not the issue with the Lakers, as they have three of the best offensive players in the league.
Right now, they have the eighth-best offense in the NBA. Most of that has happened without LeBron James in the lineup, as he missed the first month of the season with a sciatica injury. Now that he is back, the offense should only improve.
Defensively, the Lakers are a bottom-10 team in the league. A trade proposal from Bleacher Report would see Los Angeles add defensive stud Herb Jones to help them remedy that issue.
GettyPelicans forward Herbert Jones plays defense. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Lakers Add Herb Jones to Help Defense in Bold Trade Proposal
Here is the full trade proposal:
Dalton Knecht, Maxi Kleber, and 2031 first-round pick to the New Orleans Pelicans for Herb Jones.
Knecht is clearly a player that the Lakers have been looking to get rid of for the better part of a year. They tried to ship him off to Charlotte in a trade for Mark Williams before it was rescinded. They want no part of him moving forward, and Kleber doesn’t fit into their long-term plans.
The real prize for the Pelicans is the first-round pick that they would add. As a team that is in the middle of a rebuild, adding that kind of draft capital can help them tear it down faster. Knecht isn’t a bad player, either. He can give them some help when it comes to perimeter shooting.
For the Lakers, adding Jones would dramatically improve the perimeter defense. Jones has the second-best defensive rating of his career this season. Los Angeles is trying to figure out how to get better on that side of the floor, and Jones is one of the best wing defenders who could be available.
GettyLakers guard Luka Doncic is defended by Herbert Jones. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
The Lakers Need to Improve Defensively
In order to become a true title contender this season, the Lakers have to become a better defensive team. Adding perimeter defense is the best way for Los Angeles to possibly have a shot at competing with the Thunder, who are the clear title favorites at this point.
Even if the Lakers don’t add Jones, they need to add someone who can help switch onto multiple defenders, especially in the pick-and-roll. Getting that kind of player will be key in their pursuit of winning a championship this season.
In the offseason, they needed to be better at protecting the rim. That’s why they were able to add Deandre Ayton after he was bought out from the Portland Trail Blazers. He has been much better than expected. Now, the next evolution in defensive improvement has to extend to the perimeter.
The Lakers are one of the teams to watch at the trade deadline.
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