Lakers Struggle to Trade Jarred Vanderbilt Amid Roster Crunch
Lakers Struggle to Trade Jarred Vanderbilt Amid Roster Crunch
US · Published Sep 17, 2026
The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly facing challenges in trading forward Jarred Vanderbilt, who has been on the trade block throughout the offseason.
According to Lakers insider Jovan Buha, the team has been actively shopping Vanderbilt, but his $26 million remaining on a four-year, $48 million contract and inconsistent performance have made it difficult to find a trade partner.

Impact & Risks

The Lakers' inability to trade Vanderbilt could impact their roster flexibility and financial planning. With limited draft assets, attaching picks to facilitate a trade is not a viable option. If the team cannot move Vanderbilt, they may need to waive a player, which could result in losing an asset without compensation. Additionally, the uncertainty surrounding Vanderbilt's future may affect team dynamics and his role within the squad.

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