According to Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times, the Los Angeles Lakers are currently assessing their internal options before making any further trade decisions ahead of the February 6th deadline.
“Instead of rushing into a deal for a backup big man, the Lakers do have a real desire to see what their second unit looks like once Jared Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent are on the court together—something that happened just once a season ago,” Woike wrote Sunday.
Lakers to Assess Vincent and Vanderbilt Before Making Next Trade
Vanderbilt has yet to make his season debut after undergoing multiple foot surgeries during the offseason. However, he has recently commenced non-contact practice sessions with the team.
Vincent has been a disappointment for the Lakers since signing a three-year, $33 million deal due to injuries and inefficient shooting. He hasn’t been in the lineup since Dec. 28th and hasn’t dressed in the last four games because of an oblique injury.
Both players have been included in recent trade rumors.
The Lakers’ early-season optimism, fueled by the JJ Redick era’s promising start, fizzled by mid-December. Their 13-12 record prompted fan calls for a blockbuster trade from general manager Rob Pelinka.
However, a recent surge has quelled those anxieties. They now boast a 7-2 record in their last nine games, ranking seventh in the NBA with a +4.9 net rating during that stretch (per NBA.com). The acquisition of Dorian Finney-Smith has bolstered their perimeter defense and provided another floor spacer to create scoring opportunities for LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
“Instead of frantically hunting for a third star or pushing chips in on a starting-caliber center, the Lakers, rival executives believe, will move in different ways than it might’ve seemed earlier this season,” Woike reported.