The Los Angeles Lakers have dealt with an injury-plagued roster all season, but they’re moving closer to full strength as they prepare to face the Golden State Warriors this weekend. Notably, Jarred Vanderbilt, who has yet to make his season debut due to injury recovery, was absent from the Lakers’ injury report, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
Vanderbilt’s return is significant not only for bringing the Lakers closer to full health but also for potentially influencing their trade deadline strategies. The Lakers acquired Vanderbilt at the 2023 trade deadline in a three-team deal that also brought D’Angelo Russell and Malik Beasley to Los Angeles. That season, the Lakers had already added Rui Hachimura in an earlier trade, using the momentum from these moves to fuel a run to the Western Conference Finals.
Unfortunately, Vanderbilt’s time with the Lakers has been heavily impacted by injuries. He missed most of last season, though he was cleared to return for Game 5 of the Lakers’ first-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets but did not play. After undergoing multiple foot surgeries in the offseason, Vanderbilt has been sidelined since the start of the year, making his potential return this weekend a key development for the team.
