Six Pelicans could be moved after a 26-56 season, among them Herb Jones ($14.9M), Saddiq Bey ($6.6M) and DeAndre Jordan ($3.9M). New Orleans should cash in on veterans and build around players under 25.
Bennedict Mathurin signed a two-year, $16M free agent deal, and Zion Williamson does not appear headed for an extension.
Lakers Nation podcast host Trevor Lane argued Los Angeles should explore power forward options beyond Ziaire Williams or Adou Thiero, including Herbert Jones and P.J. Washington. He called both unlikely to actually be available but said the Lakers should still check.
A proposed deal would send New Orleans forward Herbert Jones and Croatian big man Karlo Matkovic to Los Angeles for Dalton Knecht and Jaden Hardy. The Lakers would use a trade exception and a non-taxpayer midlevel slot to absorb the incoming salaries, meaning New Orleans avoids adding payroll.
A Lakers trade idea would send Pelicans wing Herbert Jones to Los Angeles for Dalton Knecht, Jaden Hardy, a 2032 first-round swap and three second-rounders, aimed at giving LA a starting small forward who can guard perimeter scorers after Klay Thompson signed in Miami and Jonathan Kuminga chose Minnesota over the Lakers' offer.
