Lakers Must Remain Patient Ahead of NBA Trade Deadline Amid Herb Jones, Ellis Rumors

The Los Angeles Lakers figure to be a very interesting team at this year's NBA trade deadline. Los Angeles has an impressive core trio in Luka Dončić, LeBron James and Austin Reaves, which means a couple of things.

For one, L.A. probably isn't going to trade away all of its top assets to land another superstar like Giannis Antetokounmpo. Secondly, it means that the Lakers probably won't look exclusively to a future with Dončić and Reaves and probably will try to improve at the February 5 deadline.

NBA insider Zach Lowe said the following last week on his podcast (h/t Caleb Hightower of The Sporting News):

"There's been this dichotomy of either the Lakers stand pat or they try to make some crazy Giannis trade that involves Reaves and all their picks. I think there's a middle ground where the Lakers, there's some buzz about could they sort of make a fringey trade to try to upgrade this roster. I think as this new ownership comes in, I think they're trying to maximize this team."

A move to support the current roster would make sense for the 18-7 Lakers, and it would appear that GM Rob Pelinka and the rest of the team's decision-makers have a specific role they'd like to fill.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, L.A. would prefer to add a young 3-and-D player who can help this season while also fitting the long-term plan for Dončić and Reaves.

Stein recently wrote the following on his Substack (h/t Ron Gutterman of Lakersnation.com):

"League sources say that the Lakers would naturally like to be in the 3-and-D market this Trade Season, but it's a very limited market at this juncture, essentially headlined by Sacramento's Keon Ellis. ...My read on the Lakers' preferences is that they would like to target players in the same age range as stars Luka Dončić (26) and Austin Reaves (27) as they continue building out the roster around them as opposed to surrendering prime trade assets for thirtysomethings."

Adding a defensive specialist who can also contribute on the perimeter offensively would make a ton of sense. For as promising as the current group has looked at times, it has exhibited the sort of poor defense that would be a massive liability in the postseason. L.A.'s range shooting hasn't been a whole lot better.

However, the Lakers would benefit greatly from exercising patience over the next month and a half instead of rushing into a deal.

There are a few reasons why waiting to make a move would be logical, beginning with the fact that the Lakers don't have many viable 3-and-D trade targets.

As Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley recently pointed out, Keon Ellis of the Sacramento Kings is probably the best realistic target the Lakers could pursue right now.

New Orleans Pelicans' defensive standout Herb Jones is a tier above Ellis, though reportedly out of Los Angeles' price point.

"We mentioned the other day that the Pelicans would insist on a significant haul to part with Herb Jones," Stein wrote. "It's a price point is presumed to be beyond the Lakers' current trade means."

It would behoove the Lakers to wait and see if New Orleans' stance on Jones changes while the team's 5-22 campaign continues to unfold. Waiting to see if any other trade candidates present themselves would also be sensible.

What appears to be an Ellis-or-bust market now could look a lot different in late January.

All of this is assuming that a 3-and-D specialist would add the most to Los Angeles' roster at the trade deadline, and that may not be the case. The Lakers are still figuring out how James fits into a group that was off to a hot start without him—it's easy to forget that James has played just nine games this season—and there's still a chance that coach JJ Redick can coax more consistent defensive efforts out of the current group.

Redick has made the defense a point of emphasis.

"JJ really got on us," center Deandre Ayton said, per Jacob Rude of Silver Screen and Roll. "...You got to have some pride on the defensive end."

The Lakers are unlikely to morph into a dominant defensive group without making some additions, but if they can be above-average, they might prioritize adding the best range shooter they can get instead of potentially overpaying for a middling 3-and-D contributor.

The Pelinka, Redick and the Lakers' new ownership group will have a much better idea of where this team's biggest needs actually reside a month from now. Until then, they should hold onto the trade capital they have. Rushing into a trade this far ahead of the deadline could prove to be a massive mistake.