Los Angeles Lakers ahead Jarred Vanderbilt has been medically cleared to make his season debut on Saturday, ESPN’s Shams Charania studies.
Saturday marks the start of a six-game highway journey for the Lakers, with the Golden State Warriors first up.
At 23-18 and clinging onto the ultimate assured playoff spot within the West, the Lakers will welcome Vanderbilt’s return with open arms.
Lengthy Highway Again
Vanderbilt suffered a foot harm final February and underwent two procedures within the offseason, one on every foot. He had initially hoped to keep away from surgical procedure however the determination turned unavoidable by the summer time.
He had surgical procedure on his proper foot and eliminated a bone spur from his left foot. His rehabilitation course of was delayed in December after experiencing fluid in his left knee.
First acquired from the Utah Jazz earlier than the 2022-23 commerce deadline, Vanderbilt signed a four-year, $48 million extension with Los Angeles in September of 2023. He was recent off serving to the Lakers attain the Western Convention Finals.
When wholesome, Vanderbilt is a terrific, versatile defender who will add toughness and switch-ability to the Lakers squad.
Throughout 29 appearances final season, the 25-year-old averaged 5.2 factors, 4.8 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 20 minutes per recreation.
Lakers Roster Frustration Brewing
After the Lakers had been blown out by the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night time, each LeBron James and head coach JJ Redick took to the media to precise issues concerning the roster.
“It simply goes again to not having an enormous margin for error and I believe our group is like, if one man is gone from the rotation, there’s an exponential impact to that,” Redick mentioned. “Once we’re wholesome, we’re complete and we’re enjoying linked and we execute, I believe we’re an awesome basketball staff.”
Heart Christian Wooden has additionally but to play within the 2024-25 season.
“That’s how our staff is constructed, we don’t have room for error,” James mentioned. “We don’t have a alternative. That’s the best way our staff is constructed. We now have to play near excellent basketball.”
