Lakers continue to monitor wing market, for now to no avail

The Lakers remain on the lookout for a true two-way wing, but that search continues to run into familiar roadblocks.

According to Marc Stein of The Stein Line, names like Herbert Jones and Trey Murphy III are well known inside league circles as ideal fits for what the Lakers want to add.

The issue is availability. Neither player is considered likely to be moved by the Pelicans before the trade deadline, and even if one somehow shook loose, the Lakers aren’t expected to chase a deal that compromises their financial flexibility unless it clearly moves the needle.

That leaves Los Angeles in a familiar spot. Two-way wings remain among the most coveted pieces in the league, and there’s no guarantee one suddenly hits the market. For now, the Lakers appear content to keep monitoring rather than force a move that doesn’t check every box.

In other words, the want is real. The path remains narrow.