The Los Angeles Lakers could potentially make a run for Sacramento Kings wing Keon Ellis ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline, per The Athletic’s Sam Amick.
While appearing on Tuesday’s episode of “Run it Back” on FanDuel TV, the NBA insider said that the Lakers — who rank No. 21 in defensive efficiency — are in the hunt for stout perimeter defenders who can also make threes at a consistent clip, with the likes of Ellis and New Orleans Pelicans wing Herb Jones on their radar.
“I talked to somebody yesterday who said the Lakers are looking for a 3-and-D-type guy,” Amick reported. “Could it be Keon [Ellis], Herb Jones, or somebody like that?”
Ellis, a career 43% three-point shooter with a 6-9 wingspan, has struggled to find his footing on a Kings team that is destined for the lottery. However, he is widely viewed by scouts around the league as a 3-and-D player with enormous upside, especially if he can land on a winning team and a title contender such as the Lakers.
Other Lakers Trade Targets
It’s worth noting that the Ellis, a free agent in 2026, was highly coveted by the Golden State Warriors in a potential trade for Jonathan Kuminga last offseason. However, the Kings refused to deal Ellis to their Pacific Division rivals and instead offered a package built around Malik Monk and a protected first-round pick. Ultimately, talks between the teams broke down, as the Warriors signed Kuminga to a two-year extension.
“The Warriors would probably be quick to pull the trigger on a deal involving Keegan Murray or Keon Ellis. However, a source with knowledge of trade conversations told The Sacramento Bee that Murray and Ellis have not been discussed and both are considered off limits in talks for Kuminga,” read a report published in July.
A lot has changed since last summer, with the Kings not inking Keon Ellis to an extension and allowing him to become a free agent in 2026. Furthermore, Ellis is averaging his fewest minutes since his rookie season — a sign of his inevitable exit.
Besides Ellis and Herb Jones, Miami Heat 3-and-D wing Andrew Wiggins is widely considered another Lakers trade target ahead of the Feb. 5 deadline.
3-And-D Players at a Premium
The Lakers can’t be blamed for targeting 3-and-D players in their title pursuit.
That archetype of a player is at a premium in the modern NBA, and arguably the most sought-after by championship contenders. Just take last season’s NBA Finals, for example, where players like Aaron Nesmith, Cason Wallace, Obi Toppin, Aaron Wiggins and Luguentz Dort played critical roles in helping their teams extend the series to seven games. While they didn’t get the credit as the stars, such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Tyrese Haliburton, neither the Oklahoma City Thunder nor the Indiana Pacers would have made deep playoff runs without their services.
Another young 3-and-D star who could be available before the Feb. 5 deadline is New Orleans Pelicans’ Trey Murphy III. However, the Lakers won’t be able to patch the Pelicans’ reported high asking price of multiple first-round picks.
The Lakers can offer teams only one first-round pick (2031 or 2032) in potential trades.
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