The Los Angeles Lakers are “one move away” from becoming a bona-fide championship threat, according to The Ringer founder and long-time NBA analyst Bill Simmons. The veteran podcaster believes there is one trade that could immediately transform the Lakers’ ceiling — and it centers on New Orleans Pelicans defensive standout Herb Jones.
During the Tuesday episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast, the veteran journalist and podcaster did not mince words.
“I would trade Herb Jones right now,” Simmons said. “The contract he’s at, literally what the Lakers need.”
The three-year veteran, widely regarded as one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA, has emerged as a highly coveted piece around the league. Simmons believes the Lakers should be at the front of that line.
Herb Jones’ Contract and Fit Make Him a Realistic Lakers Trade Target
Jones, 27, signed a three-year, $68 million extension with the Pelicans in July 2025, keeping him under contract through the 2028-29 season with a player option for 2029-30 — a total package valued at five years and $97 million. For a two-way wing entering his prime, Jones’ $13.9 million salary this season makes him one of the league’s more cap-friendly options for a contender seeking elite defense without dismantling its roster.
Simmons even outlined what he believes is a fair and attainable offer.
“[Dalton] Knecht, [Maxi] Kleber, and a 2031 first,” Simmons proposed. “Call it in.”
With Trey Murphy III carrying a higher price tag and Miami’s Andrew Wiggins potentially cost-prohibitive, Jones has surfaced as the most plausible needle-moving trade target for Los Angeles.
Why Herb Jones Checks Every Box for the Lakers’ Championship Blueprint
While Jones’ counting stats — 9.9 points and 2.4 assists per game — do not jump off the page, his defensive metrics place him among NBA elites.
His 1.6 steals per game ranks Top 10 in the NBA. He is in the 93rd percentile in deflections and the 96th percentile in turnover creation, according to Crafted NBA.
The Lakers boast scoring firepower with Luka Dončić, LeBron James and Austin Reaves, but currently sit No. 21 in defensive efficiency. Jones’ skillset — a 6-foot-7 forward with a 7-foot wingspan and a career 36.4% mark from 3-point range — makes him an archetypal 3-and-D wing capable of guarding positions 1–4.
The Athletic’s Sam Amick echoed that sentiment Tuesday on Run It Back.
“The Lakers are looking for a 3-and-D-type guy,” Amick said. “Could it be Keon Ellis, Herb Jones, or somebody like that?”
Lakers Insider Jovan Buha: Herb Jones Trade ‘Could Change the Thunder Matchup’
GettyShai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder is defended by Herbert Jones of the New Orleans Pelicans.
Before the season tipped off, Lakers beat reporter Jovan Buha predicted Los Angeles could threaten the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder only if they landed an elite perimeter defender of Jones’ caliber.
“If it’s a Herb Jones, I think they have a real shot,” Buha said in September. “Maybe I’d pick them to beat OKC.”
But Buha was not alone.
Rich Paul’s Warning: Lakers Aren’t Built for the Western Conference Gauntlet — Yet
Even LeBron James’ agent, Rich Paul, publicly questioned the Lakers’ ability to compete with the West’s elite, telling Max Kellerman during the debut episode of The Ringer’s Game Over With Max Kellerman and Rich Paul.
“I personally don’t think the Lakers are good enough to be contenders, not right now,” Paul said.
Pressed further, Paul clarified the gap:
“I don’t think they have enough to get to the Western Conference Finals.”
His comments — combined with Simmons’ proposal and a 17–6 start to the season — have added pressure on vice president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka and the Lakers front office to make a mid-season move.
Is Herb Jones the Missing Piece in the Lakers’ Championship Puzzle?
With the Western Conference featuring MVP-level offenses, switchable defenders, and length at every position, the Lakers’ window remains dependent on maximizing the LeBron-Dončić timeline.
If Simmons is right, and Jones is that final puzzle piece, the Lakers face a decision that could determine the fate of their season.
Will Herb Jones be the trade that turns Los Angeles from a hopeful contender into a legitimate NBA Finals threat? The clock — and the Western Conference arms race — are ticking.
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