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TACTICAL ANALYSIS: WHY HERB JONES IS THE ONLY 3-AND-D STAR REDICK TRULY WANTS

JJ Redick calls out the Lakers' defensive effort ahead of the Rockets clash. Explore the hurdles in a potential Herb Jones trade.

Tactical Analysis: Why Herb Jones Is The Only 3-and-D Star Redick Truly Wants
Herb Jones: The "Hidden Piece" For A Lakers Title?

Lakers' new head coach JJ Redick and Rob Pelinka talked about the team's plans for the 2025-26 season back on September 25, 2025.

So, the Lakers might have to be patient if they want Herb Jones from the Pelicans. He can't be traded until January 14. Some people think Jones would be the perfect Christmas gift for the Lakers.

Brett Siegel at ClutchPoints thinks Jones is just what Redick's team needs. He wrote that the Lakers really want Jones because they need better defense to make a real run for the championship. Even with players like Doncic, LeBron, and Reaves, their defense sometimes isn't good, especially on the wings.

Siegel said Redick wants tough defenders, and he's always liked Jones, even before becoming the Lakers' coach. Apparently, Jones is the kind of player worth trading future draft picks for.

But, according to Siegel, the Pelicans aren't really trying to trade Jones. They seem to want to keep him. However, Dan Woike of The Athletic says they might trade him if a team offers enough, but the Lakers might not be able to afford it.

The Lakers only have one first-round pick they can trade (in 2031 or 2032), plus some contracts that are about to expire, like Rui Hachimura's, Gabe Vincent's, and Maxi Kleber's. Woike wrote that the Pelicans probably aren't interested in that kind of deal.

Woike mentioned that things could change before the trade deadline on Feb. 5, but right now, it seems like the Pelicans would need a lot to change their minds.

The Lakers are supposedly looking for 3-and-D players to help their defense, which is currently ranked 24th and has been giving up a lot of points lately. Their defense was especially bad in a recent game against the Suns.

After that loss, Redick criticized his players for not trying hard enough on defense and questioned how committed they are.

He said that they can cheat and take shortcuts or make the hard play. It's a choice. You have to make a million choices in a game, and you are not likely to make them all, but you can make most of them.

For now, all trade talks are on pause as the Lakers try to end their two-game losing streak against the Houston Rockets on Christmas Day. It’ll be the first time these two teams have faced off this season. The good news is that Luka Doncic and Rui Hachimura are expected to be back from their injuries.

KENDRICK BOURNE REVEALS THE STRICT DISCIPLINE THAT SPARKED THE PATRIOTS' TURNAROUND

Kendrick Bourne speaks out! Discover why he thinks Mike Vrabel is the right fit and why he’s eyeing a 2026 return to the 49ers.

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Kendrick Bourne tops the list of receivers San Francisco wants to retain

Kendrick Bourne’s path through the NFL has zigzagged all over – some highs, plenty of lows, and now, another fresh start. He took a shot with the Patriots in 2025 after building his reputation with the 49ers. But honestly, that New England chapter ended before it even got going. Bourne didn’t just slip out the back door. He left with a lot to say about what he saw brewing in New England as Mike Vrabel took charge.

Once Vrabel arrived, you didn’t need to listen for rumours about a culture shift; it was obvious. Bourne noticed right away. He’s already got his eyes set on home, back with the 49ers, but even from a distance, he could see the Patriots were heading somewhere new long before their record showed it.

Talking about his exit from New England, Bourne didn’t sugarcoat anything. Losing the job itself wasn’t the hardest part. What stung was watching Vrabel put his stamp on the team, laying down the kind of structure and discipline Bourne knew would eventually pay off. He was blunt; things just felt different under Vrabel compared to before.

He put it like this: “After going through OTAs and camp with Vrabes, you just knew. Nothing against Mayo, but he just wasn’t ready. With Vrabes, the structure was totally different in how we studied, how we met, and just the whole vibe. Honestly, I was sad about it.”

This wasn’t just a guy being bitter. Bourne respected what was happening in New England and genuinely wished he could have been part of it, especially with a Super Bowl push on the horizon. He even admitted he’d wanted to be in that locker room when the Patriots finally made it back to the big stage.

Now he’s back with the 49ers, hoping to stick around. At 30, Bourne wants a new contract in San Francisco. He had a solid 2025, racked up 551 yards, picked up a contract bonus, and gave the offence a spark. The 49ers needed reliable hands, and Bourne delivered. He’s clear: he wants to stay, but only if the deal makes sense for him.

So now, the offseason gets interesting. Bourne knows where he fits best, but he’s still keeping an eye on what’s building in New England. That mix of looking back and chasing what’s next makes this part of his career one to pay attention to.

MRI SCARE: STEVE KERR ADMITS STEPH CURRY’S "NEBULOUS" KNEE MAY REQUIRE SECOND IMAGING

Warriors crisis! Discover why Steph Curry may need another MRI and how Jimmy Butler’s ACL tear shifts GSW to the play-in.

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Warriors star to undergo new MRI as knee pain lingers

The Warriors have been scrambling since Jimmy Butler went down with that ACL tear. He’s done for the year, and now Stephen Curry has to carry the offence on his own.

Right after the All-Star break, the Warriors are sitting in eighth place out West. That’s already shaky, and now Curry’s dealing with a knee injury too. The team calls it runner's knee; basically, he just needs time to heal. But then Steve Kerr gave an update that didn’t exactly inspire confidence.

Turns out, Curry might need another MRI. He tried to push through a full workout, but his knee just wasn’t right. Now, they’re waiting on imaging to figure out how long he’ll actually be out.

Meanwhile, Kristaps Porzingis still hasn’t suited up for Golden State. If Curry misses significant time, everyone else needs to step up in a big way. The Warriors already have one of the most average offences in the league, 15th at the break. No curry, and things get ugly fast. He’s already missed 16 games this season, and the team went 6-10 without him.

Losing Butler already knocked the Warriors out of serious contention. They’re pretty much locked into the play-in. Unless Curry suddenly goes supernova, it’s hard to see them catching the Thunder or making any real noise out West.

So, what’s next? The front office tried to swing big at the deadline, going after Giannis Antetokounmpo, though who knows if the Bucks ever really considered it. Giannis stayed put, but you can bet the Warriors will chase him again this summer.

If that doesn’t work, they’ll turn to other stars. They know the championship window is closing with Curry still on the roster. He’s still elite, but time’s ticking.

LeBron James even comes up as a possibility. If he declines his player option and hits free agency, maybe he’d team up with Curry for one last run at a ring.

Most likely, though, Golden State will look at trades instead of free agents to try to reload. Curry’s health isn’t what it used to be, and the Warriors know they have to make the most of whatever prime he’s got left.

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