The Los Angeles Lakers knew the backup center position was a problem since the offseason. They paid handsomely to acquire Walker Kessler. The Lakers traded Deandre Ayton and saw Jaxson Hayes walk in free agency. It left LA scrambling for a backup, and the best signing they could make was Kevon Looney. They explored trading Jarred Vanderbilt to plug a hole, but it turns out he filled one.
Head coach JJ Redick played Kevon Looney in the first four games, where Los Angeles was outscored by 29 points in his 30 minutes on the floor. The purple and gold want to contend for a championship, so Loon clearly wasn’t a sustainable option. It opened the door for Vando to finally get a shot.
The Lakers have won Vanderbilt’s 59 minutes by one point in the last five games. He has plugged the hole and allowed LA to keep the score even, while Kessler gets some rest. Redick is using Vando next to Sandro Mamukelashvili as a big man tandem, and it has filled LA's need.
Lakers were wise to keep Jarred Vanderbilt
The Vanderbilt trade rumors were flying around (subscription required) this summer. LA wanted to dump his $12.5 million salary, but his $13.2 million player option for the 2027-28 season made that difficult. The Lakers only have three second-round draft picks and one first-round pick swap to trade after acquiring Kessler. It would have cost most of that capital to dump Vando.
The 6’8 forward is a stout defender without an offensive role. Vanderbilt can’t space the floor, handle the ball, or act as a rim-runner. Coach Redick leans toward offense, which has made it difficult for the 27-year-old to get significant run.
The Lakers had nowhere else to turn. Kessler and Looney are the only two centers on their roster. Mamu’s versatility has been fantastic, but he struggles to rebound and protect the rim. Los Angeles wants to limit his minutes at the five, so Vanderbilt got the shot.
Lakers will explore Jarred Vanderbilt trades again
Vando still isn’t living up to his contract. He is playing 11.8 minutes per game and is the tenth man in a 10-man rotation. Vanderbilt averages 1.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.2 assists, but the Lakers have won four of the five games he has appeared in.
He is the sixth-highest-paid Laker this season and is making more than two starters. The purple and gold would still like to get his contract off their books and fill that spot with a more productive player.
Jarred Vanderbilt’s contract is an important future trade chip
The Lakers shouldn’t give up additional capital to dump Vando before the deadline. He will be a $13.1 million expiring contract in the offseason. Rebuilding teams will have no issues taking on that salary. They can just buy Vanderbilt out and instantly move on.
LA needs to keep Vando this season. Consider it the penalty for handing out a contract that aged poorly. He is playing a minimal role as the backup center. The Lakers desperately needed someone to step up. Credit to Vanderbilt. He is 6’8 and undersized, but the forward is battling for rebounds and defending well.
The Lakers have a plus-8.2 net rating with him on the floor. He is keeping the machine rolling and helping the Lakers contend. That is even more reason not to foolishly overpay to dump his contract. Vando still isn’t providing enough on offense, but LA needs him.
The Lakers knew the center position was still a problem behind Walker Kessler. Vanderbilt wasn’t an obvious option, but coach Redick is making it work. He has a quick hook for Vando, as he should. If things aren’t working, Los Angeles goes in a different direction. It has allowed the Lakers to maintain leads and win games with Vando in the rotation. Credit to everyone for figuring it out.
The Los Angeles Lakers will dump Jarred Vanderbilt before his current contract runs out. They will likely trade him in the offseason or at the 2027 trade deadline as an expiring contract. This season, he has stepped up to fill the backup center role.
The Lakers were wise to keep him on their roster. Without Vando, LA would be leaking points whenever Looney was on the floor. That wasn’t sustainable for a serious contender. Sometimes, the best option isn’t the obvious one. Vando has filled this role and should continue to get run until the Lakers can find a center upgrade.
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