The Los Angeles Lakers’ 5-time All-NBA First Team selection Luka Dončić aims to lead the storied franchise to NBA championship victory No. 18 in 2025-26, but a defensive upgrade may be needed to sufficiently boost the team’s title odds.
Los Angeles did add 2022 Defensive Player of the Year winner and ex-Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart into the fold this offseason to complement Dončić, but his best days might be behind him.
In an effort to land a younger, more reliable defensive guard with a more polished all-around game, it’s possible that the Lakers’ general manager Rob Pelinka could contact the front office of the New Orleans Pelicans to negotiate an offense-for-defense swap headlined by Los Angeles’ fringe All-Star Austin Reaves and New Orleans’ 2022 All-Star selection and steals champion (2.0), Dejounte Murray.
If a trade of this nature had a chance to come to fruition, the inclusion of Los Angeles’ Gabe Vincent and Jaxson Hayes, along with their former No. 17 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft Dalton Knecht would be required to smooth things out financially.
Murray may have missed 52 games during his debut season with the Pelicans last season due to a myriad of injuries, his unreal leap in productivity since entering the NBA as the San Antonio Spurs’ former No. 29 overall pick in 2016 may pique the Lakers’ interests.
Murray’s efficiency dropped off of a cliff in 2024-25, though his counted stats of 17.5 points, 7.4 assists, 6.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals remain an attractive sight for prospective trade suitors.
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From a general standpoint, Murray could be the perfect backcourt partner for a generational offensive talent like Dončić. His long arms, quick feet and undying hustle make him an undeniably great hypothetical fit alongside the defensively-inept superstar.
To make things better, Murray’s incredible development as an offensive hub could serve the Lakers well if the team is in need of a tertiary option behind both Dončić and 21-time All-Star forward LeBron James.
In Murray’s last healthy campaign as a member of the Atlanta Hawks in 2023-24, the versatile 6-foot-5 guard contributed a career-best 22.5 points, 6.4 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals while knocking down 36.3% of his 7.1 attempts from three-point range across 78 appearances.
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