Los Angeles, CA – October 28, 2025 – In a move that’s left NBA fans scratching their heads and G League scouts buzzing, the Los Angeles Lakers’ affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, have pulled off what can only be described as the unthinkable: shipping out 2024 NBA first-round lottery pick Dillon Jones to the Portland Trail Blazers’ Rip City Remix for a package headlined by the returning player rights to undrafted G League journeyman Will Richardson – a 26-year-old guard who’s never sniffed the NBA hardwood – along with two future first-round picks.
The deal, first reported by DraftExpress’ Jonathan Givony, was finalized over the weekend, just days after South Bay snagged Jones with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA G League Draft. For Lakers brass, it smacks of a quick pivot on a high-upside prospect who helped the Oklahoma City Thunder to a championship just last season. For Portland, it’s a low-risk bet on untapped potential closer to home. But make no mistake: this transaction reeks of desperation on the Lakers’ end and opportunism on the Blazers’ – all unfolding as the two Pacific Division rivals gear up for a Monday night clash at Crypto.com Arena
The Rise and Rapid Fall of Dillon Jones: From Thunder Champ to G League Nomad
Dillon Jones’ NBA journey has been a rollercoaster worthy of a Hollywood script. Selected ninth overall by the Thunder in the 2024 NBA Draft (after a draft-night shuffle that saw him initially tabbed for the Wizards), the 6-foot-5 wing out of Weber State burst onto the scene as a key bench piece for OKC’s surprise 2025 championship run. In 54 regular-season appearances, Jones averaged a modest 2.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 10.2 minutes per game, shooting 38.3% from the field. He even laced up for 10 playoff games, including three in the NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers, where he chipped in 2.3 points per contest on limited 4.6 minutes.
But glory was fleeting. Post-championship, OKC flipped Jones to Washington in a salary dump, only for the Wizards to waive him before training camp. Enter the G League Draft, where South Bay – eyeing a developmental gem for LeBron James and Anthony Davis’ twilight years – made him the top selection on October 25. Six days later? Poof. Traded north to Rip City for scraps.
Jones, now 24 and hailing from Ogden, Utah (a mere 12-hour drive from Portland), couldn’t hide his excitement about the move. “Weber State to OKC, now Portland? Feels like coming home,” he told reporters after signing his G League deal. The geographic poetry isn’t lost: Trail Blazers icon Damian Lillard also starred at Weber State, leading to whispers of a mentorship pipeline. In the G League last season (split between OKC Blue and other assignments), Jones exploded for 13.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 5.1 assists over 31.5 minutes per game – numbers that scream “NBA rotation player” if he polishes his jumper (32.4% from three in college).
His college ledger at Weber State cements the “lottery pick” hype. Over four seasons, Jones etched his name in the history books: all-time leader in steals (200+), second in assists and free throws made, third in rebounds (1,000+), and fifth in scoring (1,500+). As a senior, he dominated the Big Sky Conference, leading in points (20.8), assists (5.2), and nearly rebounds (9.8), all while swiping 2.0 steals per game on 48.9% field goal efficiency. He’s the only player in conference history – and one of just four nationally since 1992-93 – to hit 1,500 points, 1,000 boards, 400 dimes, and 200 swipes.
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So why ditch him so soon? Insiders point to South Bay’s crowded wing rotation and Jones’ age – turning 24 next month – clashing with the Lakers’ youth infusion strategy around Luka Dončić’s impending arrival. “It’s a salary cap thing in the G League world,” one Eastern Conference scout quipped anonymously. “But trading a champ for picks? Bold, bordering on baffling.”
Enter Will Richardson: The G League Enigma with NBA Dreams
In return, South Bay lands Will Richardson, a 6-foot-5 guard who’s bounced around the G League like a pinball since going undrafted out of Oregon in 2021. The 26-year-old Hinesville, Georgia native has zero NBA minutes to his name – the very definition of a “never-seen-NBA talent” – but his tape flashes All-Defensive upside and playmaking wizardry.
Richardson’s G League resume is solid if unspectacular: Over 100+ games split between the Grand Rapids Gold, Delaware Blue Coats, and Rip City Remix, he’s averaged 12.4 points, 4.2 assists, and 3.1 rebounds on 44.2% shooting. His signature moment? A 18-point, 14-assist explosion in a February 2025 win for Grand Rapids, where he shot 7-of-13 from the field. At Oregon, he was a four-year starter under Dana Altman, peaking as a senior with 12.0 points and 3.5 assists while earning All-Pac-12 honorable mention honors.
But NBA doors have stayed shut. Waived by the Nuggets after a brief Summer League stint in 2022, Richardson’s path led overseas to Lithuania’s BC Šiauliai before circling back to the G League. Scouts praise his length and vision – “He sees angles LeBron wishes he could” – but question his burst and three-point stroke (34.1% career). For South Bay, he’s a low-cost flier who could spell Max Christie or Dalton Knecht in spot minutes, especially with the Lakers nursing injuries to key wings.
The picks? A 2026 first-rounder (acquired from Rio Grande Valley via Oklahoma City) and a 2027 first-rounder straight from Rip City. Not championship-altering, but valuable currency in the G League’s draft-lottery ecosystem.
Ripples for Lakers-Blazers Showdown – and Beyond
As the Lakers (2-2) host the Blazers (1-3) on Monday, all eyes will be on whether Jones suits up for Portland’s bench – or if logistics keep him sidelined. “Short notice, but he’s a pro,” Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said post-practice. “Dillon’s got that Weber State grit. Reminds me of Dame.”
For the Lakers, this trade underscores a franchise in flux: Post-LeBron, with Dončić rumors swirling, GM Rob Pelinka is hoarding assets like a doomsday prepper. But parting with Jones – a recent lottery splash who tasted Finals champagne – for a G League ghost? It risks alienating fans hungry for homegrown hope.
Jones, ever the optimist, posted on X after the deal: “New chapter, same hunger. Shoutout LA for the ride. Portland, let’s eat. #ThunderUp vibes forever.” Richardson, meanwhile, declined comment but was spotted at South Bay’s El Segundo facility Monday morning, dripping sweat in pickup lines.
In the unpredictable G League trenches, where NBA dreams collide with harsh realities, this swap is a reminder: No one’s untouchable, and the grind never stops. Will Jones reclaim his lottery shine in the Pacific Northwest? Can Richardson finally crack the league’s big stage? Only time – and maybe a few viral highlight reels – will tell.