Lakers finally get the Jarred Vanderbilt update they've waited all season for

The Los Angeles Lakers entered the 2024-25 regular season with high hopes for a potentially revamped defense. The foundation of that optimism was the excitement surrounding what healthy versions of Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent could bring to the table.

Unfortunately, while Vincent is back at 100 percent and playing at an increasingly intriguing level, Vanderbilt has missed every game up to this point in the 2024-25 season.

Injury woes have unfortunately come to define Vanderbilt's tenure with the Lakers. He appeared in just 29 games in 2023-24 and has thus far missed 41 during a 2024-25 campaign during which he was expected to feature prominently under head coach JJ Redick.

Thankfully, the news that the Lakers have been waiting for has finally arrived, as Shams Charania of ESPN reported that Vanderbilt has been medically cleared to make his season debut.

With the 2025 NBA trade deadline nearing and the Lakers searching for answers on defense, this news couldn't have come at a better time.

Jarred Vanderbilt cleared to make 2024-25 Lakers debut

Vanderbilt has earned a reputation as perhaps the best wing defender on the Lakers' roster. He's aggressive at the point of attack, fights over screens when working without the ball, and willing to make the plays that many shy away from.

The addition of Dorian Finney-Smith may call Vanderbilt's status as the Lakers' best wing defender into question, but that's far more of a positive than a negative.

With both Finney-Smith and Vanderbilt on the court, Los Angeles would have the potential for an elite level of play on defense. Both are strong offensive rebounders, as well, which lends itself to the Lakers needing to improve upon a ranking of 26th in second-chance points per game.

Adding Vincent to the mix would give the Lakers an intriguing trio to help anchor a second unit that already ranks third in defensive rating.

Perhaps that trio would open the door for rookie Dalton Knecht to be able to spend more time as a shot creator and offensive focal point. It's equally as possible that Vanderbilt will eventually find his way into the starting lineup.

For what it's worth: The Lakers ranked in the 84th percentile in net rating across 731 possessions during which Vanderbilt shared the court with Anthony Davis in 2023-24.

The elephant in the room in either event is that Vanderbilt may very well be auditioning to remain in Los Angeles. He's in the first season of a four-year, $48 million contract and could be utilized for the purpose of matching salaries if the Lakers find an upgrade at another position.

In either event, the Lakers finally have a healthy Vanderbilt at their disposal—meaning the true identity of Redick's team could soon take shape.