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Lakers $48M dud being viewed as guaranteed trade candidate this offseason originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Lakers aren't in the worst position entering free agency, but they definitely have some contracts on the books that they'd love to get rid of. The Lakers have tried to get creative with multiple players in the past, and not all of it has worked.
One of those is now a seven-year player in Jarred Vanderbilt, who's playing on a four-year, $48 million deal.
Vanderbilt, who isn't off the Lakers' books until the 2028-29 offseason when he's an unrestricted free agent, is an above-average defender, but one of the worst offensive players in the NBA. For that reason and more, one CBS writer believes it's a good idea to move on from him.
“As one of the few guaranteed contracts left on the books for the Lakers, if they try to trade one or more of their three available first-round picks, Vanderbilt's money will probably be in the deal. It's not a huge contract, but he's not offensively viable in the playoffs, so it will be treated as a clear negative,” Sam Quinn of CBS wrote.
Any blockbuster deal the Lakers are looking to make this offseason will likely require them to move on from Vanderbilt's money.
In that sense, the Lakers might be able to get off the hook for the remaining two years. That would be the best-case scenario for a team that's not only looking to build a better roster but also to avoid bad contracts on its books.
More NBA news:
- 76ers’ Joel Embiid named trade candidate, but it truly makes no sense
- Knicks should move on from Mitchell Robsinon, trade for disgruntled center
- Major NBA report should be of interest for Lakers and Celtics
- Lakers get firm trade price tag on star to pair with Luka Doncic
- Lakers expected to at least make one upgrade this offseason in major way
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