
The Los Angeles Lakers enter NBA games today sitting sixth in the Western Conference, dangerously close to following into the thick of teams who would have to compete in the Play-In Tournament. With the trade deadline approaching, troubling NBA rumors have emerged about one of the Lakers trade candidates.
Los Angeles already made its first big move months out from the NBA trade deadline, acquiring Dorian Finney-Smith from the Brooklyn Nets. The front office is now moving forward with its secondary targets, but a deal appears even more complicated than expected.
Related: Latest Jarred Vanderbilt injury update for the Los Angeles Lakers
- Jarred Vanderbilt contract (Spotrac): $10.714 million salary in 2024-’25, $11.571 million salary in 2025-’26, $12.428 million salary in 2026-’27, $13.285 million player option in 2027
According to Lakers’ reporter Jovan Buha of The Athletic, Los Angeles would be required to attach a first-round pick in any deal involving forward Jarred Vanderbilt for the team to land a “valuable piece” in return this season.
“For the Lakers to include Vando, they would probably have to put a first round pick just as an attachment to Vando. Forget the other stuff that your giving up… That’s the one issue is that for this to work, it would actually be one first (round pick) and Rui (Hachimura) and a player and then probably a first (round pick) to Toronto or Chicago to take on Vando’s salary.”
Jovan Buha on the trade value of Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt
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- Jarred Vanderbilt stats 2023-’24 (ESPN): 5.2 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 1.2 APG, 51.8% FG in 20 MPG
To be clear, Buha is specifically sharing that the Lakers would need to attach a future first-round pick in any trade that involves Vanderbilt. The 25-year-old power forward’s value has hit such a low point that teams open to trading with the Lakers would want a first-round pick just for taking on Vanderilt’s contract.
It means any substantial deal the Lakers’ front office might want to make would likely require the inclusion of multiple first-round picks with Vanderbilt as part of the package as a salary-filler. Given how low his trade value is right now, Los Angeles might have to keep him just for the sake of reducing the acquisition cost of any key contributor it wants to acquire.