Home Care In Jones, LA

NBA trade season has arrived, and as usual, the LA Lakers sit at the center of speculation as they look to upgrade their roster in pursuit of a record-setting 18th championship. And Lakers fans had reason to get excited when one of the team’s potential trade assets delivered a standout performance in the G League.

In the South Bay Lakers’ 127-118 victory over the San Diego Clippers, Dalton Knecht, who is signed to a four-year, $18,483,220 contract, threw down a thunderous dunk that fired up fans.

Several fans reacted enthusiastically to Knecht’s showing, as he poured in 30 points on 10-of-17 shooting to lead South Bay to the win, with some pleased that his performance could boost his trade value and ready to see him moved.

“demon raising that trade value???????? herb jones welcome to LA????????,” one fan said.

“Lakers need to just let him go, he ain’t go blossom over there man,” another said.

Here are other reactions.

Knecht has continued to slide further down the Lakers’ rotation, and this season he is averaging just 6.4 points and 1.9 rebounds in 15.1 minutes per game, all of which are declines from his rookie campaign last year.

The 24-year-old has emerged as one of the Lakers’ most realistic trade chips as the franchise reportedly looks to make marginal improvements around the roster.

Can the Lakers trade Dalton Knecht for Herb Jones?

The Lakers are widely expected to test the trade market in hopes of improving their defensive identity. One name that has surfaced in those discussions is Pelicans wing Herb Jones, one of the NBA’s most highly regarded defensive players.

While Jones would provide an immediate defensive boost for LA, there is a significant obstacle, according to The Athletic’s Dan Woike.

“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,” Woike reported last week.

“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.”

A deal in which the Lakers send Knecht, along with expiring guard Gabe Vincent, to the Pelicans for Jones would be financially viable, but Jones cannot be traded until January. If a bidding war were to emerge, it remains to be seen whether LA could outmaneuver rival teams.

It’s one of the NBA’s worst-kept secrets that the Los Angeles Lakers are pursuing New Orleans Pelicans wing Herb Jones ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline. Amid the widespread reports, the All-Defensive forward was called “a Laker” by a fan after the Pelicans beat the Chicago Bulls, 114-104, on Sunday night.

As seen in the clip below, a fan at the United Center in Chicago had some words for Jones after Sunday’s game.

“Herbert Jones, you’re a Laker, my boy,” the fan yelled from the stands, causing Jones to react with a perplexed look.

“Huh?” Jones said as he walked back to the tunnel.

Lakers Trade Rumors Intensify

One wonders whether Herb Jones thought the Lakers pulled off a trade for him during Sunday’s game, and that the fan was informing him of the blockbuster news.

That sort of interaction wouldn’t be a first in the modern NBA, given the cutthroat nature of the business. Even generational stars like Luka Doncic and Anthony Davis were not aware that they had been swapped for each other during last year’s deadline. Similarly, a Miami Heat fan in the audience informed Jimmy Butler III that the Golden State Warriors had pulled off a trade for him shortly before last season’s deadline.

As such, it’s perfectly reasonable that the Pelicans would not inform Jones if and when a trade materializes for him, be it to the Lakers or any other team.

Besides Jones, some of the rumored Lakers trade targets include Miami Heat’s Andrew Wiggins, Sacramento Kings‘ Keon Ellis and Dallas Mavericks‘ Daniel Gafford. All three players can help shore up the Lakers’ mediocre defense, which ranks 20th in the NBA.

What Herb Jones Could Cost

A player like Jones, who made the All-Defensive First Team in 2024, would be an incredible fit on a Lakers team that has three subpar perimeter defenders — Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and LeBron James — in the starting unit.

That said, the Pelicans may not be very keen on a potential Lakers trade package of either Rui Hachimura or Gabe Vincent and a first-round draft pick. According to The Athletic’s Dan Woike, the Pelicans are seeking much more for their defensive ace.

“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 reported on Dec. 11 on the Lakers’ trade pursuit for Herb Jones.

Woike added Pelicans’ stance could change, but is unlikely.

“Maybe the view of the Lakers’ assets or the Pelicans’ view of Jones will change between now and the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline, but as of now, sources point out, New Orleans would need a whole lot to be convinced otherwise,” wrote the L.A. beat writer.

Jones is averaging 1.4 made threes per game this season, establishing himself as one of the NBA’s best 3-and-D players. His numbers will almost surely spike playing next to three excellent playmakers like LeBron James, Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic. He’s never had the luxury of playing next to great decision-makers in his time in NOLA.

The Los Angeles Lakers lack perimeter defense and high-end athleticism at the wing position, which is arguably the roster's biggest weakness and has informed the team's needs on the mid-season NBA trade market.

One name that has been bandied about more than perhaps any other is that of New Orleans Pelicans forward Herb Jones. But while several analysts have suggested and/or speculated that Jones would be a good fit in L.A., Chris Haynes reported that the Lakers have already reached out and begun discussions with New Orleans about acquiring the 27-year-old wing.

"Those are calls ... that the Lakers have made to New Orleans," Haynes said on the Sunday, Dec. 14 edition of “The Kevin O’Connor Show."

Jones is earning $21 million in 2025-26 in the first season of a three-year deal worth a total of $67.6 million. That number is low enough that Los Angeles shouldn't have much trouble cobbling together a package of expiring player contracts to send the Pelicans' way, which will allow New Orleans to clear that figure off its cap for next year and create room to bring in its free agent of choice.

Where the details will matter more is in the draft compensation the Lakers send the Pelicans in return for Jones. Los Angeles has five first-round pick swaps to trade, but those will carry essentially no value to a New Orleans team that is among the most likely franchises to finish with the worst record in the league this year. And while the Pelicans have some young talent, they don't profile as a winning organization for multiple seasons into the future.

Thus, the Lakers will almost certainly have to include the sole first-round pick they can deal ahead of the early-February deadline if they want to land Jones. L.A. can send New Orleans a first-round asset in either 2031 or 2032.

That also means that Jones will be the Lakers' premier in-season acquisition, as they won't have much else of real value to dangle in trades for win-now types of players. But that should be okay with the Lakers, as the 6-foot-7 Jones fills a glaring roster hole.

He earned a spot on the All-NBA Defensive First Team in 2023-24, the last time he played enough games to qualify for NBA accolades. Jones also came in fifth place in Defensive Player of the Year voting that season. Jones is a 36.5 per cent career 3-point shooter on approximately three attempts per game.

The Los Angeles Lakers are among the league’s stronger teams this season. Sitting fourth in the Western Conference at 17-7, the Purple and Gold look steady, but not complete. Despite the strong start, roster gaps remain. To solidify their title push, LA still needs a reliable 3-and-D wing, and New Orleans’ Herb Jones has emerged as a potential solution.

In the past few weeks, the New Orleans Pelicans star has been identified as one of, if not the prime target, for the Lakers. There have been several reports linking the 27-year-old with the storied franchise. However, there has not been an official confirmation from either team. Still, that hasn’t stopped the Lakers Nation from claiming Herb Jones as their own.

One such incident occurred last night, when the forward was heading into the tunnel after New Orleans’ emphatic 114-104 win over Chicago. As Jones headed toward the dressing room, one seeming Lakers fan shouted, “Herbert Jones, you’re a Laker, my boy.” A statement that drew a surprised reaction from the Pelicans player, as he looked absolutely stunned. We mean, can you blame him?

In fact, he gave a reaction that anyone would’ve expected from the Pelicans star. Nonetheless, there’s no denying that Herb Jones will be a great addition to the Lakers. Just this season, the young forward has been averaging 9.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists. Although those numbers might not seem earth-shattering, there’s more to Jones than his box scores.

The New Orleans Pelicans phenom is among the best 3-and-D guys out there. He can not only score but is also an incredible athlete. So, he’ll certainly add a lot of depth to the Purple & Gold, giving head coach JJ Redick a solid additional option to choose from.

However, the question now is whether the Pelicans are willing to part ways with Herb Jones, and if they are, what’s the expected price?

Are the Pelicans interested in listening to offers for Herb Jones?

Well, while we know why trading for Herb Jones would make sense from the Los Angeles Lakers’ perspective, it will only be possible if the Pelicans give them a green light. However, New Orleans might not be under any pressure whatsoever to move the 27-year-old. The fact that he’s still quite young and is under contract until the 2028-29 season, the franchise can wait until the summer.

More so, because he even has a player option for the 2029-30 season. So, it would only make sense for the organization to sit tight and wait at least until next summer. That’s because they’ll have plenty of offers for Jones then and can compare which one fits them the best. As a matter of fact, there might be several teams that could easily put in an offer better than the Lakers.

Even NBA insider Marc Stein noted the same in his recent piece. The long-time reporter pointed out that even though there seems to be interest in Herb Jones from LA, he might be beyond their price point, at least for now.

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

Having said that, it’s pretty hard to look past the fact that New Orleans is an organization that often makes questionable moves. So, while holding onto Jones might seem like the best possible route for the franchise, it shouldn’t be much of a surprise if they actually show willingness to make a trade with the Lakers before the February trade deadline.

However, for that to happen, the Purple & Gold would, without a doubt, have to let go of some of their assets. Now, will Rob Pelinka and Co. be willing to do that or not? No one knows for sure. However, if the Pelicans do make Herb Jones available, the Lakers should do whatever they can to bring him to Southern California, that’s for sure.

Boxing legends Oscar De La Hoya and Roy Jones Jr have disagreed on who they believe would have prevailed in a fantasy clash between Floyd Mayweather and Terence Crawford.

‘Money’ Mayweather is widely considered to be arguably the greatest fighter of all time, proving his credentials time and time again throughout the course of his 21-year professional career where he captured world titles in five divisions, one of them coming against De La Hoya himself.

As for Crawford, the 38-year-old from Omaha has had a stellar professional career to date, becoming the first male fighter to win an undisputed championship in three weight classes back in September when he dethroned Mexican icon Canelo Alvarez of his undisputed super-middleweight titles.

In an interview with the media recently, De La Hoya gave his plaudits to former rival ‘Money’ Mayweather who he claims is ‘more superior’ than Crawford in a shock statement.

“Crawford is more of a fighter boxer, and Mayweather is more of a boxer. But Mayweather is much more superior than Crawford. I feel that technically, Mayweather is the better fighter.”

It appears not everyone shares the same views as ‘The Golden Boy’ however, as four-weight world champion Jones Jr revealed in a recent interview with Fight Hub TV that he actually ranks ‘Bud’ higher.

“To me he (Crawford) is (better) because he challenges himself. Don’t get me wrong, Floyd ain’t no bad fighter, Floyd is a hell of a sharp fighter but I ain’t gonna say a better fighter.”

Whilst boxing fans have undoubtedly missed out on a clash between Mayweather and Crawford, one thing for absolute certain is that it would have been an instant classic had the legendary duo crossed paths.