5 Most likely Los Angeles Lakers to be traded during the 2024 offseason

With limited flexibility in free agency, the Los Angeles Lakers are looking to upgrade the roster via trade. Who are the most likely Lakers to be included in potential trade discussions?

Los Angeles Lakers v New Orleans Pelicans - Play-In Tournament / Jonathan Bachman/GettyImages

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4. Jarred Vanderbilt

The trend continues. The Los Angeles Lakers plan to be aggressive on the trade market and that means Rob Pelinka needs to be able to offer players whose contracts won't scare teams off. Unfortunately, that puts Jarred Vanderbilt on this list.

Vanderbilt is entering the first season of a four-year, $48 million backloaded contract that may make him less likely to be shipped out, but still fits him into the team-friendly range.

Vanderbilt is owed $10,714,286 for the 2024-25 season and could thus be included if the Lakers need to make salaries match. It's a bargain of a deal, coming in at just 7.6 percent of the current salary cap.

The question, of course, is whether a team would be willing to take on a role player entering the first season of a four-year deal.

When healthy, Vanderbilt has proven to be an invaluable player for the Lakers. At 6'8" with a 7'1" wingspan and impressive agility, he has the length to defend all three frontcourt positions and the athleticism to switch against guards. He's also a productive offensive rebounder.

Vanderbilt missed 53 games this past season, which could deter teams from accepting his inclusion in a potential trade, but he remains a candidate to be moved due to his annual salary.