July is almost over, and it's safe to say that the Los Angeles Lakers' roster looks much better than it did at the end of the 2024-25 NBA playoffs. The offseason additions of Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart, Jake LaRavia, and more have completely elevated head coach JJ Redick's lineup, setting the stage for the Lakers to be true title contenders next season.
While the front office's summertime moves have been well-received by the Lakers fan base, there's still time to add more reinforcements. Adding new names will likely require a trade due to L.A.'s salary cap situation, though, which means at least one current Laker must be moved to bring in a new face.
With that in mind, it wouldn't be a surprise if one of Los Angeles' veterans was nowhere to be found in Redick's opening night lineup.
Lakers Forward Jarred Vanderbilt Could Be Traded Before 2025-26 Season
It's been a rollercoaster ride for Jarred Vanderbilt in L.A. ever since the Lakers acquired him during the 2022-23 NBA season. Although the former Kentucky product has demonstrated hard work and solid defensive ability at times, the fact that he's often injured has left him as a potential trade candidate this offseason.
Despite spending seven seasons in the Association, Vanderbilt has only hit the 70-game mark twice, with his most recent instance being the year he was traded to Los Angeles. He's struggled to stay on the floor in the subsequent seasons, playing only 65 regular-season contests and five playoff outings since 2023-24. No matter how it's sliced, that isn't a good look for any player.
Given his injury history, it wouldn't be shocking if the Lakers were ready to get out of Vanderbilt's contract. The 26-year-old forward is owed around nearly $24 million in cash across the next two seasons, and that's without mentioning his $13.2 million player option for 2027-28. That's a big financial commitment to make for a player who's played 36 or fewer games in back-to-back years.
Assuming they're worried about his health going forward, the Lakers could shop Vanderbilt throughout the rest of the summer. Whether it's just to dump his salary or as a part of a deal to land a proven contributor (another veteran wing is needed), getting his contract off the books is something the Lakers must consider. He just isn't the player L.A. needs him to be.
The NBA offseason has already seen plenty of out-of-nowhere trades, and Vanderbilt being shipped out of the City of Angels could be next on the list.