May 5, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt (2) runs down the court after a play against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first half during game one of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
May 5, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt (2) runs down the court after a play against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first half during game one of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
The Los Angeles Lakers experienced a major roster overhaul this summer, replacing LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, and Marcus Smart (among others) with Walker Kessler, Collin Sexton, Quentin Grimes, Kevon Looney, and Sandro Mamukelashvili.
Among the losses, however, backup forward Jarred Vanderbilt was not included, setting the stage for his fourth straight full season with the Purple and Gold. As much as the Lakers have tried to trade Vanderbilt, no teams have answered the call, forcing head coach JJ Redick to begrudgingly accept Vando’s return for at least some of the 2026-27 campaign.
“The Lakers have been trying to find a taker for Vanderbilt, but no one has been eager to take on his contract,” wrote Heavy’s Sean Deveney. “It’s possible the Lakers will use him in their rotation, much to JJ Redick’s chagrin, and attempt to trade him during the season.”
Vanderbilt, 27, was on three different teams before being sent to the Lakers in 2023. Known primarily as a wing defender, he seems like the ideal fit on paper for a Lakers team that has struggled to contain perimeter shooters. With a modest career stat line of 5.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game on 54.6% shooting from the field, Vanderbilt has never played a huge role on his teams, but he provides a spark off the bench as a 6’8″ athlete with natural defensive instincts.
Unfortunately, Vanderbilt’s flaws as a shooter and scorer have kept him on the fringe of JJ Redick’s rotation. With an average of 1.5 three-point attempts on 29.3% shooting per game, he failed to fulfill his role as a three-and-d wing, which made him virtually unplayable in the postseason. Without the confidence or ability to stretch the floor, Vanderbilt becomes more of a liability than anything else. If not for injuries, he might have played significantly less throughout the season, revealing just how much the Lakers value his impact.
So, with the promise of building a legitimate contender around Luka Doncic, the Lakers are growing increasingly desperate to offload Vanderbilt. Specifically, they would welcome the opportunity to replace him with someone like Dwight Powell, Kevin Love, or even De’Andre Hunter. The only question is, will an actual trade suitor emerge, or will the Lakers have to pay out the remainder of Vando’s contract?
A team like the Hawks makes sense in light of Jonathan Kuminga’s departure, and the Timberwolves could also make a fitting landing spot for the veteran swingman. While no deal has yet been finalized, the Lakers might be willing to send a second-round pick back as a sweetener, and that might be what it takes to secure a deal.
Ultimately, with two years and $25.4 million left on his contract, Jarred could opt out and become a free agent next summer, and it’s unclear where his loyalty ultimately lies. That’s why trading him sooner rather than later is the best option for the Lakers to avoid any unnecessary drama during the season.
Whether or not the trade market picks up for Vanderbilt remains to be seen, but the hope internally is that something opens up before February’s deadline. At the very least, there is optimism that he might show signs of improvement enough to drive up his value and generate league-wide interest in a trade.
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