The Los Angeles Lakers did a great job at reshaping the roster at the trade deadline in 2023 and that allowed the team to go farther in the NBA Playoffs than anyone would have ever imagined. It wasn’t just a short-term fix, though.
By making the moves that the team made, Rob Pelinka gave LA more flexibility to attack this upcoming offseason. That is a breath of fresh air from last year when the Lakers were restricted by Russell Westbrook’s contract and couldn’t make any moves.
For that reason, we could see some players leaving the Lakers this summer, whether it be via their own decision or by a trade. However, there are also players who are so untouchable that it would be a shock to see them go.
2 Lakers who have earned untouchable status, 2 who haven’t:
Untouchable: Jarred Vanderbilt
While Jarred Vanderbilt started to see his playoff role decline a bit as he was not making shots he is still a crucial part of this rotation. Vanderbilt added a real defensive identity to this team that allowed the Lakers to be one of the best defensive teams in the league after the deadline.
Plus, the Lakers wouldn’t really gain anything from moving on from Vando. The team is not going to be able to find someone who has the same kind of impact as him for the same cost. He is under contract for one more season and is making less than $5 million. That is an absolute steal.
It does not matter what direction Los Angeles goes in this offseason. There is zero reason to move on from Vanderbilt at the current cost that he has. It would be one thing if he had an inflated salary but that is not the case at all.