With less than a month to go until the 2026 NBA Trade Deadline, Lakers fans continue to clamor for help on the wing, a task easier said than done for LA’s front office. As the pursuit of Pelicans forward Herb Jones grows slimmer by the day, one insider has revealed a trio of “secondary” options the Lakers could consider.
Insider: Three Wings Viewed as ‘Realistic Options’ for Lakers
Siegel: Trio of East Wings are ‘Secondary Targets’ for LA
In a wave of information provided by ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel, he acknowledged that the Lakers’ pursuit of wing help has grown “difficult.” As New Orleans’ asking price for Jones and Trey Murphy reaches astronomical levels, he thinks the Lakers could look at three reserves instead.
“It has been difficult for the Lakers, like the Warriors, to find adequate talent worth trading for on the wing without sacrificing their entire future. That is why secondary talents like Isaac Okoro, Keon Ellis, and Haywood Highsmith continue to be realistic options. Maybe there could even be a reunion between Kyle Kuzma and the Lakers should he be the best wing available on the market.”
Isaac Okoro
Chicago Bulls guard/forward Isaac Okoro has been largely inconsistent since he was traded from the Cavaliers in the offseason. In 28 games, he averaged 8.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists while shooting 47% from the field and 33% from three. Okoro is a decent and physical defender with 3-and-D potential. However, he is a low-volume three-point shooter (career 35% on 2.7 attempts per game) and is coming off a horrendous 1-for-7 outing from the perimeter against the Celtics.
The Lakers’ three-point shooting struggles have been well-documented, and adding Okoro is unlikely to solve their problems. If the front office is looking for a legitimate needle-mover and two-way threat, they are better off passing on Okoro and his $11 million salary.
Haywood Highsmith
Nets wing Haywood Highsmith has yet to play this season as he continues to recover from a torn meniscus. In 74 games with the Heat last year (42 starts), he put up 6.5 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists on .458/.382/.721 splits. The analytics favor Highsmith’s isolation defense—which the Lakers sorely need on the wing—and he boasts standout athleticism with a decent shot selection from three.
Highsmith could give the Lakers the athletic defender their bench has craved. However, understandably, his health is a key concern, especially for a team that has faced a myriad of absences in the rotation. Should the Lakers show interest in Highsmith, he is on a team-friendly expiring contract, earning $5.6 million this season.
Keon Ellis
The connection between the Lakers and Keon Ellis has tightened in recent weeks, with the fourth-year guard getting the short end of the stick amid Sacramento’s backcourt logjam. Through 35 games (four starts), Ellis has averaged 5.7 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game on .385/.355/.607 splits. He’s a career 41% three-point shooter with versatile defense, aided in part due to his 6’9” wingspan.
The Lakers reportedly checked in on Ellis’s status recently, appearing willing to move on from Dalton Knecht in the process. However, Sacramento is seeking a first-round pick in return, and the Lakers may not be open to trading their 2031 first for an “above average” 3-and-D guard. Ellis and his expiring $2.3 million contract are a hot commodity across the league. One exec told Heavy Sports: “The Lakers tend to get talked about more, but everyone loves him.”
On paper, Ellis seems like an ideal target for the Lakers, considering their pursuits of more high-profile wings have gone nowhere to this point. The key to acquiring him will come down to draft compensation, assuming the Lakers prefer to keep their first-round pick for a larger deal down the line.
© Stephen Lew-Imagn Images