The question is, how can they get that done while keeping the parts of their roster that are working well?
After all, the Lakers are still in the running for a top-four seed in the Western Conference, so any move has to be a combination of helping the team win now while also building for the future.
In a recent episode of “The Kevin O’Connor Show,” Kevin stated that the Lakers are trying to send out Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent in an attempt to acquire a wing.
Kevin O’Connor: “With the Lakers, the word on the street is that they’re looking to package Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent together for a wing.”
Vando is a good defender, but it’s clear the Lakers want a bit more offense from that position. For a moment, Vando was out of the rotation due to his offensive struggles, but with LA being so poor defensively, he is back to playing double-digit minutes in each contest.
On the season, Vanderbilt is averaging 5.1 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.
Vando is under contract for next season and has a player option for the following year, so LA getting out of that deal would be beneficial.
Vincent has a higher offensive upside than Vando, but he is also struggling to consistently produce. He is averaging 5.1 points and shooting just 33.7% from the field. Vincent is on the final year of his deal, so anyone interested in acquiring him can rest assured they aren’t committing to any long-term money.
The problem is, how many teams would actually be interested in a package where Vincent and Vanderbilt are the main players in a deal?
For now, this seems like the options the Lakers are exploring to improve their roster. Now, it’s up to the front office to execute on a deal and give Luka Dončić and LeBron James a shot at contention.