Lakers proposal makes major trade, including first-round pick, for below-average return

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Lakers proposal makes major trade, including first-round pick, for below-average return originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Holding the 25th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers don't exactly have a great asset to move on from over the next few weeks. It's possible that the Lakers decide to get creative and attach that pick to a player, perhaps somebody like Deandre Ayton.

The Lakers really have to ensure that they have an opportunity to land an above-average player who can come in and make an immediate impact, though I'd be skeptical about them making trades for fringe players who have shown some signs, but not many.

That's exactly what one trade proposal would do: the Lakers moving on from Ayton and pick No. 25 in a deal for Tre Jones from the Chicago Bulls.

Lakers receive: Tre Jones

Bulls receive: Deandre Ayton, No. 25 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft

“One of the Lakers' biggest issues this season was the lack of a reliable point guard option behind Doncic. When Luka was off the floor or limited physically, Los Angeles often struggled to organize its offense and create quality shots. That is where Tre Jones could help.

“Jones would immediately provide a steady second-unit playmaker capable of running the offense, limiting turnovers, and maintaining ball movement,” Basketnews wrote.

Jones is a decent player, respectfully, but he's certainly not what the Lakers are looking for.

He averaged 14.1 points per game, the best of his career, a season ago. However, he was on a brutal Chicago Bulls team, where he shot nearly 10 times per game. On the Lakers, he probably wouldn't have the same chances to score the basketball, and he shot just 31% from three-point range on two attempts per game. He isn't a clean fit, so I'd pass if I were Los Angeles.

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• Lakers predicted to finally add elite wing around Luka Doncic

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