During the trade deadline in the 2022-23 season, the Lakers made multiple moves, one of which involved acquiring power forward Jarred Vanderbilt from the Utah Jazz. Following the deadline, Vanderbilt played in 26 games for Los Angeles, starting in 24 of them. However, at the beginning of the 2023-24 season, he faced a setback due to a heel injury during the preseason.
As a result, the 24-year-old missed the first 20 games of the season for the Lakers. Since then, he has participated in 29 out of the team’s 51 games this season. Unfortunately, Vanderbilt recently suffered a foot injury during a match against the Boston Celtis. Insider sources suggest that the Lakers anticipate him being unable to play for the remainder of the 2023-24 regular season, which is undoubtedly disappointing news for the team.
In other Lakers news, the organization has reportedly reached out to the Detroit Pistons regarding a potential trade for Danilo Gallinari. Additionally, they have expressed interest in acquiring Dorian Finney-Smith. Meanwhile, concerns continue to grow over Jarred Vanderbilt’s availability for the rest of the season.
Last season, when the Lakers acquired Vanderbilt, they utilized him as a starter, and he started in 13 of their 15 postseason games as well. However, due to his current injury, the team has had to rely on the depth of their roster to fill his position. Taurean Prince has started in the power forward position for 47 games this season, which is where Vanderbilt played last season. Unfortunately, injuries have prevented Vanderbilt from contributing on the court for Los Angeles in the 2023-24 season.
Given the urgency to start the season, the team was unable to wait for Vanderbilt’s recovery. Fortunately, the Lakers had built a roster with sufficient depth, allowing them to quickly replace Vanderbilt. However, with the recent foot injury, there are rumors that he may be sidelined for the remainder of the season. If this turns out to be true, the Lakers may consider adding another player before the trade deadline on Thursday. According to reports from Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Lakers have expressed interest in Danilo Gallinari from the Detroit Pistons.
Danilo Gallinari sat out the entire 2022-23 season due to an ACL injury. However, the 35-year-old worked diligently to return to the court for the start of the 2023-24 season. He began the season with the Washington team but was later traded to the Pistons. Since the trade, Gallinari has played in five out of the Pistons’ 10 games. There are reports that the Lakers have inquired about Gallinari, which makes sense considering their need for three-point shooting, a skill in which Gallinari excels. Throughout his career, he has maintained a three-point shooting percentage of .382, making him an attractive addition to the Lakers’ roster if the Pistons show interest in a trade.