Young Lakers Role Player Suddenly the Subject of Trade Rumors

The Los Angeles Lakers are in clear star-acquisition mode as they look to upgrade this roster and get back to Finals contention. With several picks at their disposal and a core of young players to offer, that puts Los Angeles in a great position to land a difference-maker this summer.

Of course, a big addition will likely lead to several departures, and one key role player seems to officially be on the trade block.

On his latest podcast, Lakers beat reporter Jovan Buha broke down the team's current approach to a blockbuster trade. Buha specifically mentioned forward Jarred Vanderbilt as one player who'd be available if it helped LA accomplish its goal of securing a third star to pair with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

"When looking at the mid-size salaries, the guy they would love to keep is Austin Reaves. Everyone else is movable to an extent. So, they're gonna try and use some of those guys. Be it, Rui and Vando, Rui and Gabe, Rui and D-Lo, if D-Lo is available to be traded."

- Jovan Buha

Given Buha's intel that GM Rob Pelinka prefers to keep Austin Reaves, it makes sense that Vando is now in the crosshairs. The Lakers must offer quality players if they're to snag a high-level talent, and that means sacrificing multiple guys in that mid-level range to bring in a star on a lucrative deal.

Vanderbilt is no stranger to trade rumors. He was dealt on draft night in 2018, going from the Orlando Magic to the Denver Nuggets. He didn't make it even two full seasons in Denver before he was traded again, this time heading to Minnesota as part of a four-team swap.

In July 2022, Vando was sent on his way again, this time going from the Timberwolves to the Utah Jazz as part of the Rudy Gobert trade. That paved the way for him to eventually land in Los Angeles at the 2023 trade deadline, where he went on to sign a four-year, $48 million extension.

Coming off of a 2023-24 campaign that saw him suit up in just 29 games while posting a dismal 5.2 PPG and 4.8 RPG -- his lowest in each category since the 2019-20 campaign -- Vanderbilt's stock isn't as high as it once was. Yet, he's a rangy, defensive-focused wing who touts great size at 6-foot-8 and is only 25 years old, all while being on a very team-friendly contract.

Given the premium the league puts on flexible defenders in this high-scoring era, Vanderbilt is the perfect trade chip to tempt another team into trading a star.

It remains to be seen if LA tries to keep Vando, however, and possibly packages someone like Rui Hachimura and Gabe Vincent instead to retain some of its perimeter defense.

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