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The Los Angeles Lakers received tough news on two of their top trade targets.
ESPN's Shams Charania and Anthony Slater reported Thursday that the New Orleans Pelicans are not looking to trade forwards Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones.
"The New Orleans Pelicans are rebuffing calls about all of their young wings, league sources said," Charania and Slater said.
Murphy and Jones have been linked to the Lakers since last month. The two will be highly coveted if the Pelicans eventually decide to trade them. Murphy is averaging a career-high 22.2 points per game this season, while Jones is considered one of the NBA's top perimeter defenders.
More: Lakers a team to watch in Jonathan Kuminga sweepstakes
The Lakers are reportedly searching for forward depth to help the team's defensive issues. LA is 24th in the league in defensive rating (117.8), giving up 116.4 points per game.
Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka could turn to fallback options if Murphy and Jones are not on the trade block. Kings guard Keon Ellis and Nets forward Haywood Highsmith are two players the Lakers reportedly have interest in.
LA is thin at the forward positions outside of LeBron James and Rui Hachimura. Jake LaRavia has emerged as a consistent performer after signing with the Lakers last offseason. But more depth will be needed if the Lakers want to emerge as a top contender in the Western Conference.
Los Angeles (23-13) has lost three of its past four games. The Lakers are fifth in the Western, 8.5 games behind the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. LA returns to action Thursday night against the Charlotte Hornets.
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