The Los Angeles Lakers own only one tradeable first-round pick (2031 or 2032) that they can use to make roster upgrades ahead of the Feb. 5 deadline. Unfortunately, that sole pick is not highly valued around the league.
Per The Athletic’s Dan Woike, Mark Walter’s acquisition of the Lakers franchise has changed the way teams around the league view the team’s only draft asset.
“According to league sources, that future Lakers pick, which could be in 2031 or 2032, is less valuable than it was viewed both before the Luka Dončić trade and since Mark Walter’s acquisition of the franchise,” Woike reported on Dec. 11.
“The belief is that since Walter has proven to be an effective owner with the Los Angeles Dodgers, that he and whoever he entrusts the franchise to will, at minimum, keep it from the kind of freefall that would truly make that future first-round pick less of a lottery ticket.”
Primary Lakers Trade Needs
It’s widely acknowledged that the Lakers need wing defenders to improve their chances of competing with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs — the consensus four best teams in the Western Conference.
During Wednesday’s NBA Cup quarterfinal loss, JJ Redick’s team was severely exposed as a mediocre defensive unit, allowing 132 points to a Spurs team without Victor Wembanyama. Despite their 17-7 start to the season, the Lakers rank No. 21 in defensive efficiency and have given up over 130 points to lottery-bound teams such as the New Orleans Pelicans, Utah Jazz and LA Clippers.
Amid their defensive woes, the Lakers have been linked to 3-and-D players such as Herb Jones, Andrew Wiggins and Keon Ellis. Unfortunately, the Pelicans have no interest in moving Jones, per Woike, and the Heat have set a very high asking price in a potential deal for Wiggins, a proven winner and former NBA champion.
Lakers Trade Assets
Woike made it clear that the Pelicans won’t move Jones to the Lakers for a package of one first-round pick and an expiring contract such as Gabe Vincent or Rui Hachimura.
“While Lakers fans can fantasize about some all-out liquidation of the three-win Pelicans’ roster, team and league sources tell The Athletic that New Orleans is not interested in moving Jones,” wrote the Lakers beat writer.
“And considering what LA would have to offer in a deal, expiring contracts and a single first-round pick, the Pelicans almost certainly wouldn’t engage at that price point.”
Woike’s report added that the Pelicans’ view of Jones could change between now and the February 5 trade deadline, but the franchise would “need a whole lot” to be convinced otherwise to trade their All-Defensive star to a conference rival.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick didn’t mince words about his team’s paltry defense after their 132-119 loss to the Spurs.
“Very few teams don’t have something that you can expose,” Redick said. “And we typically, consistently, got exposed (for) the same things.”
“I think being able to contain the basketball is probably the most difficult thing for our team right now,” added the second-year Lakers coach.
The NBA’s unofficial trade window begins on Dec. 15, when more than 80% of the league’s players will be eligible to be moved.
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