NBA Rumors: Lakers Named as Team to Watch In Pursuit of Another All-Defensive Team Player

The LA Lakers have made some big additions this offseason, starting with finally landing a center in Deandre Ayton, and then just last week acquiring former NBA Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart.

But could another backcourt defensive dynamo be on their radar as well?

According to Grant Afseth of FastbreakJournal (h/t Hoops Wire), the Lakers are being looked at as a "trade destination to monitor" for Jrue Holiday. The six-time All-Defensive Team member and NBA champion (2021) is said to be unhappy with his trade this summer from the Boston Celtics to the Portland Trail Blazers, leading to trade rumors.

Questions about his health, age, and contract have fueled speculation about whether Portland will look to move him.
Multiple sources recently told FastbreakJournal.com that Holiday is a name to monitor, particularly as a potential target for the Los Angeles Lakers. That’s not to say active conversations are taking place, but his name continues to surface in NBA circles as the team evaluates options to add more talent around LeBron James and Luka Dončić. Other teams are monitoring the situation, though the Lakers are widely viewed as one of the most natural fits if Portland explores a deal.

Holiday is still owed over $103 million over the last three years of his contract (the main reason Boston moved on from him), and is 35 now, and has slowed down a bit on the defensive end, though is still a very solid defender. His offense was down significantly last season, to 11.1 points and 3.9 assists, down from his career averages of 15.8 ppg and 6.2 apg.

There's also the matter of Holiday's health that could be an issue. "Knee-related concerns are common knowledge among rival teams when evaluating Holiday’s availability," writes Afseth.

Back in February, at the trade deadline, the Lakers voided a trade they had made with the Charlotte Hornets for talented center Mark Williams due to issues arising from his physical. So you can bet they'll be vigilant on that end in any Holiday pursuit as well.

But if Doncic, who seems to be part of the Lakers' braintrust these days, is consulted, he's bound to be in favor of a Holiday acquisition. Back in 2022, he had said of the staunch defender, “Jrue is one of the best, if not the best guard defender for me. “I think he doesn’t get a lot of praise for how he can guard. So for me, it’s really tough to go against him."

Perhaps he won't have to for much longer, if these rumors come to fruition.