The Los Angeles Lakers were rumored to be offering (subscription required) Jarred Vanderbilt in trades this summer, but couldn’t find a deal. They have forward minutes to fill, and now Vando has another shot to crack the rotation. If he doesn’t, this will be his final year with the Lakers.
The 6’8 forward is set to make $12.4 million this season and has a $13.2 million player option for the 2027-28 campaign. Vanderbilt is picking up that option, which has squashed trade interest. He has played in just 130 games over the last three seasons and averages 17.6 minutes each night. Lakers fans know all about his offensive struggles, and Vando simply makes too much for the production he can offer.
The Lakers’ offseason retool around Luka Doncic left a hole at the four. They tried to sign-and-trade for Jonathan Kuminga using Vando, but it didn’t work. LA will have an open competition for playing time during training camp. They want to be in title contention and must play whoever gives them the best shot to win. That leaves Vando in a make-or-break situation.
Lakers have to move on if Jarred Vanderbilt isn’t a contributor
The 6’8 isn’t on a minimum contract. He is the sixth-highest-paid player on the team. Every dollar counts in the second apron era. Depth and rookie scale contracts are more important than ever. The Lakers can’t be dishing out $12.4 million to someone who isn’t part of the nightly rotation if they want to be a serious title contender.
Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Walker Kessler, and Quentin Grimes are locked into the starting five. Sandro Mamukelashvili, Jake LaRavia, Ziaire Williams, Matisse Thybulle, Adou Thiero, Cameron Carr, and Vanderbilt should be competing for the final spot. The Lakers lack a true power forward, so all 48 minutes at the four are up for grabs.
Mamu is the highest-paid player of that group, but his limitations should make him a sixth man. Los Angeles needs a backup center, so expect Mamukelashvili to split his time between the four and the five.
Williams may already be a better version of Vando. He needs to consistently hit jumpers and play stout defense. There have been flashes, but consistency is massive for the 25-year-old.
All seven players vying for the Lakers' final starting gig expect to be in the rotation. Head coach JJ Redick cannot play everyone. The competition isn’t just for a place in the starting five, but for who sticks in the rotation.
Fans saw Vando be in and out last season. His offensive struggles make it difficult to use him every night, especially against the best teams.
Vanderbilt is playing for his future with the Lakers. If he isn’t part of the rotation, LA will attempt to trade him before the deadline. If no team is willing to take on his contract, the purple and gold will move on in the offseason. Vando will be on an expiring contract at that point, and rebuilding teams will have no qualms about taking on his deal.
Jarred Vanderbilt needs a go-to offensive skill to stick on the Lakers
The 6’8 forward plays stout defense. He has produced a positive defensive box plus/minus in every year of his career, according to Basketball-Reference. The Lakers were 1.2 points per 100 possessions better defensively with Vando on the floor last season in medium and high leverage situations. He can guard multiple positions and get stops.
Vanderbilt can’t stick in the rotation because of his lack of a difference-making offensive skill. He is a career 29.0 percent 3-point shooter. Vando can’t handle the ball, make plays, or consistently get buckets. The result has been a negative offensive box plus/minus every year and questions about his impact.
The 27-year-old took a career-high 1.5 3-pointers per game last season. He shot just 29.3 percent on them, but finding a consistent jumper is the easiest path to sticking in LA. Vanderbilt isn’t suddenly becoming a creator. He could get more involved as a cutter, but he produced just 1.24 points per possession off of those plays, which was well below league average.
Defenses have no reason to guard Vando at this stage, and the Lakers can’t be a serious title contender playing 4-on-5 offensively for 20 minutes every night. Vanderbilt needs a difference-making offensive skill to stay with the Lakers.
The Los Angeles Lakers shopped Jarred Vanderbilt this summer, so it is now-or-never. He needs to show significant improvement and crack the nightly rotation. If not, the Lakers will move on before the 2027-28 season begins. Vando makes too much money to not be an impactful rotation piece. The pressure is on the 6’8 forward. He has to deliver, or Los Angeles needs to move on.
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