Lakers trade idea brings in $30M ex-Luka Doncic teammate and hardly moves any assets

I'd still like to see the Los Angeles Lakers go out and make another move to improve on both sides of the basketball, though I also recognize that the limited assets make this situation a bit more difficult than it might seem. Right now, the Lakers have a decent but not great roster, and there's no other way to put it. 

However, that doesn't mean the Lakers can't improve if they find a player they're willing to take a chance on who has either battled injuries or hasn't been at his typical level. 

There aren't a whole lot of guys out there that the Lakers might want, but a recent trade proposal involving the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Clippers would give them an opportunity to do just that.

Lakers receive: Derrick Jones Jr.
Mavericks receive: Cameron Christie, Jarred Vanderbilt
Clippers receive: Daniel Gafford

“Jones, owed $10.4M in the final year of his deal, is not as good a three-point shooter as Washington, but is just as effective, if not a better wing defender. Furthermore, Jones has shown the ability to make big shots when counted upon, as he did during the Mavericks’ run to the 2024 NBA Finals,” Sai Mohan wrote.

Jones showed during his time with Luka Doncic and the Mavericks before he was traded that he can be a very good player alongside him. 

I'm also curious whether the Clippers would even want to take that deal in return, but if they're willing to move on from him, the Lakers would benefit greatly from this type of trade.

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