The Lakers can't find a buyer for Jarred Vanderbilt and are already considering an alternative plan

Los Angeles Lakers have been trying to trade Jarred Vanderbilt for some time, but no franchise has been willing to take on his contract. According to Sean Deveney from Heavy, the alternative gaining traction is for Los Angeles to keep the forward in the rotation at the start of the season and attempt to find a trade during the course of the season.

The issue for the Lakers is not just on-court performance. Vanderbilt still has a defensive profile that can be useful, but his limited offensive production, injury availability issues in recent years, and a contract exceeding 12 million dollars this season have significantly reduced his appeal. In a highly financial monitored scenario, few franchises seem willing to pay that price for a player whose role can be very specific.

The Lakers can't find a fit for Vanderbilt

The situation is particularly striking because Los Angeles has been trying to find a way out for Vanderbilt for months. His name even appeared in conversations related to the Lakers' attempt to acquire Jonathan Kuminga via a sign-and-trade, but Atlanta showed no interest in absorbing his contract.

Vanderbilt will earn 12.43 million dollars in 2026-27 and has a player option of 13.29 million for 2027-28. This means that any team acquiring him must not only evaluate his performance but also commit financially to a player who does not have a guaranteed important role in a competitive rotation.

And therein lies the difficulty: Los Angeles needs to free up salary and find pieces that improve the roster around Luka Doncic, but to convince another franchise to take Vanderbilt they would likely have to add additional incentives.

A sporting solution that could become an advantage

The alternative would be quite simple: use Vanderbilt until he regains value. It does not necessarily mean making him a key piece, but giving him minutes in matchups where his defensive strengths make sense.

Vanderbilt continues to provide size, activity, rebounding, and the ability to defend multiple positions. His problem arises when the opponent can completely ignore him on offense. In 2025-26, he averaged just 4.4 points and 4.5 rebounds in 17.4 minutes, with a 29.3% shooting from three-point range, and his participation was reduced even further during the playoffs to 10.7 minutes per game.

Thus, JJ Redick would need to find a very specific utilization: Vanderbilt as a defensive specialist, especially alongside units with enough creation and shooting to compensate for his offensive limitations. If it works, the Lakers could demonstrate to potential buyers that he remains a useful player in a competitive context.

The market may change during the season

Here lies the interesting part of the strategy. The contract that seems difficult to move today may become much more attractive in a few months.

If Vanderbilt plays regularly, stays healthy, and shows he can contribute defensively and in rebounding within a winning structure, Los Angeles will have arguments to reach out to interested franchises again. Moreover, teams can quickly change their needs during the season: injuries, poor results, or a specific need on the perimeter can transform an apparently expendable player into a useful piece.

The Lakers could also wait for the contract to approach its end. Vanderbilt's player option for 2027-28 introduces an additional variable and could facilitate his contract being used as part of a larger operation if Los Angeles finds a more significant target.

Vanderbilt still has a role in Los Angeles

Thus, the scenario does not necessarily imply that the Lakers have given up on him. Quite the opposite: if they cannot sell him, they need to ensure he plays enough to turn him back into a tradeable asset.

For Redick, it will be a challenge, as Vanderbilt has already struggled to stay in his rotation, and his lack of outside threat limits the combinations in which he can appear. But Los Angeles needs to find utility for him, even if it is circumstantial.

The conclusion is clear: Vanderbilt may start the season as a Laker out of necessity and end it as a bargaining chip. The Lakers have not found a buyer because his contract weighs too heavily in relation to his offensive production. Now they will try to let the court do the job that the front offices have not managed to do: increase his value, demonstrate his utility, and finally open the door for a trade that allows them to improve a roster aimed at competing at the highest level around Doncic.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Los Lakers no encuentran comprador para Jarred Vanderbilt y ya contemplan un plan alternativo