It’s no secret that the Lakers are trying to add a two-way wing to this roster via a trade.
The question is, how can they get that done while keeping the parts of their roster that are working well?
After all, the Lakers are still in the running for a top-four seed in the Western Conference, so any move has to be a combination of helping the team win now while also building for the future.
In a recent episode of “The Kevin O’Connor Show,” Kevin stated that the Lakers are trying to send out Jarred Vanderbilt
and Gabe Vincent in an attempt to acquire a wing.
Kevin O’Connor: “With the Lakers, the word on the street is that they’re looking to package Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent together for a wing.”
Vando is a good defender, but it’s clear the Lakers want a bit more offense from that position. For a moment, Vando was out of the rotation due to his offensive struggles, but with LA being so poor defensively, he is back to playing double-digit minutes in each contest.
On the season, Vanderbilt is averaging 5.1 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.
Vando is under contract for next season and has a player option for the following year, so LA getting out of that deal would be beneficial.
Vincent has a higher offensive upside than Vando, but he is also struggling to consistently produce. He is averaging 5.1 points and shooting just 33.7% from the field. Vincent is on the final year of his deal, so anyone interested in acquiring him can rest assured they aren’t committing to any long-term money.
The problem is, how many teams would actually be interested in a package where Vincent and Vanderbilt are the main players in a deal?
Perhaps adding some draft capital can get teams in on a Lakers trade? Los Angeles is reportedly trying to trade their 2032 first round pick for multiple future firsts. If they can accomplish that and add Vincent and Vando in a package, suddenly that’s a much better deal for the right franchise.
For now, this seems like the options the Lakers are exploring to improve their roster. Now, it’s up to the front office to execute on a deal and give Luka Dončić and LeBron James a shot at contention.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
