The 2024-25 NBA postseason is nearly here, and all eyes are on the Los Angeles Lakers. Rostering superstars like LeBron James and Luka Doncic is bound to garner a big spotlight, which the Lakers are thriving beneath as they boast a 49-31 record heading into the final two regular-season games — good for third place in the Western Conference.
Even though the Lakers are building more momentum with each passing day, there's always room for improvement. Certain veterans must step up to help bring the Larry O'Brien Trophy back to Los Angeles, including one forward whose job likely depends on his upcoming postseason performance.
Jarred Vanderbilt Desperate Needs Strong Playoff Showing to Save Lakers Job
If he wants to return with the Lakers for the 2025-26 NBA season, Jarred Vanderbilt needs to find a way to take his game to the next level in the playoffs.
A former 2018 second-round pick, Vanderbilt has been with the Lakers for parts of the last three seasons after arriving in a three-way trade during the 2022-23 campaign. His defensive upside led to his quickly becoming an L.A. fan favorite, leading to his being signed to a $48 million extension right before the 2023-24 season began.
Unfortunately, Vanderbilt's contract no longer looks like the steal it once had the potential to be. The former Kentucky Wildcat's reliability and consistency have fallen off a cliff since putting pen to paper, with the decline mostly stemming from a significant foot injury that limited him to 29 appearances during the 2023-24 season.
Vanderbilt's recovery bled into the current season, keeping him off the floor until January. It hasn't been pretty since he returned, though, as he's only averaging 4.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists while shooting 47.4% from the floor and 28.1% from three-point range. Additionally, the 12.2 points per 100 possessions he's averaging makes for a new career low.
Unless his performance does a complete 180° turn in the playoffs, it's hard to imagine Vanderbilt playing out the rest of his contract in Los Angeles. He's owed nearly $24 million in cash across the next two seasons before carrying a $13.2 million player option for the 2027-28 season — numbers the Lakers likely aren't comfortable paying based on his current form.
Vanderbilt's future likely hinges on how he performs this spring. The Lakers only want the best and most consistent contributors to play alongside James and Doncic, and they'll be open to moving on from Vanderbilt to make it happen, according to The Athletic's Jovan Buha.
For now, Vanderbilt and the Lakers will continue with the final regular-season stretch, tied for the fourth-best 2025 NBA Finals odds (+1700) on FanDuel Sportsbook.
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