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Lakers Receive Major New Injury Update On Crucial Wing

Originally posted on NBA Analysis Network
By Kenneth Teape | Last updated 4/4/24

The Los Angeles Lakers have been making a major push recently to get out of the NBA Play-In Tournament in the Western Conference. They have won three games in a row and eight of their last nine to improve to 44-33 on the season.

They are only two games behind the Dallas Mavericks for fifth place in the Western Conference and 1.5 games behind the sixth-place Phoenix Suns for the final spot outside of the NBA Play-In Tournament.

Making matters even better for Los Angeles is that they are starting to get healthy. Over the weekend, guard Gabe Vincent was back in the lineup for the first time since December because of a knee injury. A major signing during free agency, he greatly improves the team’s backcourt depth.

Could the Lakers be getting more reinforcements sooner rather than later? According to head coach Darvin Ham via Jovan Buha of The Athletic, forward Jarred Vanderbilt is expected to be re-evaluated next week.

Darvin Ham says Jarred Vanderbilt will be re-evaluated early next week.
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) April 3, 2024

Vanderbilt is currently dealing with a foot injury that was originally expected to keep him sidelined for the remainder of the 2023-24 NBA season. But, things must be progressing in a positive manner, as it sounds like he is moving closer to getting back on the court.

This season has been a tough one for Vanderbilt, who has been unable to shake the injury bug from the get-go. He missed the first 20 games of the season and came back to play in 29 out of 30 games before being sidelined again.

Without Vanderbilt, the Lakers have been missing one of their most important players defensively. Vanderbilt has the size, length and athleticism to defend every position on the court, making him extremely valuable to the game plan Ham puts together.

Getting him back in the mix would make Los Angeles that much more dangerous of a team in the NBA Play-In Tournament and postseason, should they advance to that point. His versatility and willingness to do the dirty work is something every team could use more of.

This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.

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