The Los Angeles Lakers have done a solid job of getting rid of most of the dead weight on their roster. The one remaining player they have who fits that description is Jarred Vanderbilt, a 6-foot-8 forward who is a versatile defender and a capable rebounder but is very limited offensively.
They tried to trade away Vanderbilt and rid themselves of the $12.4 million he is owed for this upcoming season by offering him to the Atlanta Hawks for Jonathan Kuminga. But instead, Kuminga went to the Minnesota Timberwolves, and it therefore looks like L.A. is stuck with Vanderbilt, at least for now.
According to NBA insider Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports, Vanderbilt, who also has a player option for the 2027-28 season, could return to the team's rotation this
coming season.
"The Lakers have been trying to find a taker for Vanderbilt, but no one has been eager to take on his contract. It’s possible the Lakers will use him in their rotation, much to JJ Redick’s chagrin, and attempt to trade him during the season."
Vanderbilt averaged 4.4 points and 4.5 rebounds in 17.4 minutes a game while shooting 47.1% from the field and 29.3% from 3-point range. He found himself being shuffled in and out of the rotation by Redick, and he only averaged 10.7 minutes per game in the playoffs.
When he first came to the team in February 2023, he was a key part of its rotation, not to mention a fan favorite, because of the energy he played with defensively and on the boards. But starting in that season's playoffs, his inability to hit 3-pointers, catch the ball in the paint and convert layups in traffic got exposed, and his playing time has diminished ever since.
Perhaps next summer, when Vanderbilt will become an expiring contract, he will have a little bit of value, or at least no negative value, in a potential trade for a player who would help Los Angeles get one step closer toward becoming a championship contender.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: NBA insider on Lakers' plans for Jarred Vanderbilt moving forward
