According to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt could miss the rest of the season.
Vanderbilt suffered a serious right foot injury against the Boston Celtics on February 1.
Vanderbilt signed a four-year, $48 million extension with the Lakers in September. He’s averaging 5.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.2 blocks in 29 games this season while shooting 51.8% from the field, 29.6% from 3 and 66.7% from the free-throw line.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Jarred Vanderbilt, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
The Lakers acquired Vanderbilt from the Utah Jazz last season. The lefty helped Los Angeles reach the 2023 Western Conference Finals, where LAL lost to the Denver Nuggets in four games.
“It’s going to take a committee,” Lakers head coach Darvin Ham said about Vanderbilt getting hurt. “It just can’t be one or two people that bring what he brought.”
Vanderbilt, who has a plus-minus of +44 this season, is the Lakers’ best perimeter defender and second-best rebounder behind Anthony Davis. The purple and gold are going to miss Vando tremendously.
Vanderbilt, who is making $4.6 million this season, has career averages of 6.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.4 blocks with the Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Jazz and Lakers. He was the 41st overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft out of Kentucky.
The Lakers are currently on a two-game winning streak. They beat the Celtics on February 1 and defeated the New York Knicks last night at Madison Square Garden. LAL is 26-25 on the season. They are in ninth place in the Western Conference standings.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Jarred Vanderbilt, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
According to NBA insider Jovan Buha of The Athletic, the Lakers are putting a greater emphasis on adding a defensive wing by the trade deadline. The team has been linked to Brooklyn Nets forwards Dorian Finney-Smith and Royce O’Neale.
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