The 3 forwards who could elevate the Lakers' quality

The Lakers have reshaped much of their roster around Luka Doncic, but an important question remains in Los Angeles: do they have enough perimeter defense to face the great forwards in the Western Conference? This is where three names come into play that could make sense in a hypothetical trade: P.J. Washington, Herbert Jones, and Derrick Jones Jr. None are currently linked to a trade with the Lakers, but all three address, with different profiles, an evident need.

The idea gains even more strength because Los Angeles has built a team with more youth, athleticism, and complementary pieces around Doncic. The arrival of Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, Matisse Thybulle, and other players has changed the team's profile, but a forward capable of defending physical players while not hindering the offense could significantly raise the project's ceiling. 

P.J. Washington, probably the best fit with Doncic

Of the three names, P.J. Washington seems to be the most natural fit. Not only because he already knows Doncic after having shared the locker room with him in Dallas, but because he offers something particularly valuable around the Slovenian: defense, size, rebounding, and the ability to play off the ball.

Washington averaged 14.2 points and 7 rebounds in 2025-26 with the Mavericks. His three-point percentage fell to 32.5%, so it wouldn't be reasonable to present him as an elite perimeter specialist, but he still poses enough of an outside threat to prevent defenses from completely ignoring him.

Moreover, his experience alongside Doncic has a value that doesn't show up in the statistics. He knows how to play when Luka dominates the ball, when to space out, when to cut, and how to exploit the spaces created by his drives and passes. He can also defend multiple positions and provide physicality at the four spot.

The problem is evident: Dallas does not seem inclined to part with him. Washington himself indicated that the Mavericks' president, Masai Ujiri, had conveyed to him that he did not intend to trade him. So, he would be the best fit on paper, but likely one of the most complicated to acquire.

Herbert Jones, the defensive specialist the Lakers need most

If the absolute priority were defense, Herbert Jones would likely be the number one candidate.

His great virtue is simple to explain: he is one of those players capable of taking on the task of defending the opposing team's best perimeter player without needing offensive prominence. FanSided highlights that he has finished in the 86th percentile or higher of Defensive Estimated Plus-Minus in each of his first five seasons, and during the past season, he was in the 91st percentile for steal percentage. 

For a Lakers team led by Doncic, this has immense value. Luka does not need another player who monopolizes possessions. He needs someone who can defend the opposing team's star forward, run the floor, cut to the basket, and capitalize on the open shots generated by the Slovenian.

Jones is also not a total zero on offense. He has shown the ability to shoot from the outside — reaching 41.8% from three in 2023-24 — and can attack closeouts and put the ball on the floor.

The difficulty here would be even greater: New Orleans would have little reason to give away a player of that profile, especially since he is under contract control for several seasons. FanSided suggested a hypothetical price of Jarred Vanderbilt, two first-round picks, and a second-round pick, but it is important to emphasize that this is an author's proposal, not an actual offer between the Lakers and Pelicans.

Derrick Jones Jr., the cheaper and more athletic alternative

Derrick Jones Jr. would be a different solution. He does not have the potential offensive impact of Washington or the defensive level of Herbert Jones, but he brings something that could be very interesting on a roster around Doncic: athleticism, speed, the ability to defend, and play above the rim.

Additionally, once again, there is the Doncic factor. Jones Jr. played alongside the Slovenian in Dallas, so he knows perfectly one of the simplest roles for any teammate of Luka: cut, run to the rim, and be ready to finish when the creator finds a gap.

FanSided proposes a hypothetical trade of Jake LaRavia, Dalton Knecht, and three second-round picks for Jones Jr. The proposal is again purely speculative, but it reflects an important difference compared to the other two names: it could be a lower-cost acquisition in assets.

His ability to defend aggressively, change direction, and occasionally protect the rim from outside positions would make him a useful piece for certain lineups, although his offensive impact would be more limited.

Which would fit best with Luka Doncic?

P.J. Washington would be my choice for these Lakers.

Not necessarily because he is the best defender of the three — that title belongs to Herbert Jones — but because he offers the most balanced package. He can defend, rebound, play as a four, partially spread the floor, and most importantly, he already knows firsthand what it means to share a team with Doncic.

The hierarchy would be:

1. P.J. Washington — better balance and better connection with Doncic.
2. Herbert Jones — better option if the priority is perimeter defense.
3. Derrick Jones Jr. — more athletic and potentially cheaper alternative.

The big question, however, is not just which player the Lakers would choose, but whether they truly need to make the move. Los Angeles has just rebuilt much of its roster and it makes sense for JJ Redick to test the available combinations first before giving up assets for another piece. Hoops Wire itself emphasizes that there are no reported trades involving any of the three players. 

The underlying issue does deserve attention: when the playoffs arrive, who will defend the best forwards in the West? If the Lakers discover that this is their weakness, names like Washington, Herbert Jones, or Derrick Jones Jr. could reappear in conversations. For a team whose goal should be to maximize Luka Doncic's years, finding that defensive complement could end up being one of the most important decisions of the season.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Los 3 aleros que podrían dar un salto de calidad a los Lakers