As expected, the Los Angeles Lakers will be severely hampered in the frontcourt as reserve forward Jarred Vanderbilt will not be ready to start the season, ESPN Dave McMenamin reported.
“Jarred Vanderbilt continues to progress towards a return, according to JJ Redick, however he will continue to rehab for at least the next two weeks, which will cause him to miss the start of the regular season on Oct. 22.”
Some positive news: Vanderbilt participated in non-contact basketball drills at the Lakers shootaround yesterday. The 25-year-old, limited to 29 games last season, underwent surgery on both feet this summer.
Based on Redick’s timeline, Vanderbilt will remain out until at least November. That means the 6-8 power forward will miss at least the season’s first five games. The Lakers begin a five-game road trip on October 28. Vanderbilt’s absence could extend until they return to Los Angeles on November 8 against Philadelphia.
Lakers To Be Shorthanded Up Front To Begin Season
While it is unsurprising that Vanderbilt will be on the shelf to start the season, it will severely hamper rotation up front. Christian Wood is out indefinitely after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee last month. However, the 29-year-old participated in non-contact drills at yesterday’s shootaround, per Edwin Garcia of SB Nation.
Rui Hachimura’s calf strain complicates things in the frontcourt. Hachimura, slated to start at one of the forward spots, missed last night’s preseason game against Phoenix and will likely miss tonight’s exhibition final.
While there is no word on whether Hachimura will miss any time during the regular season, the Lakers will likely be cautious. Calf injuries can be tricky.
Also, Christian Koloko, on a two-way deal, still hasn’t been cleared to play, though there is optimism that he will be able to suit up against Minnesota on October 22.
Redick’s Frontcourt Options off the Bench
Redick has said that he plans to use a nine-man rotation. Vanderbilt is definitely expected to be one of the nine, and Wood could be once healthy due to his offensive prowess. So, with both players sidelined, it likely opens the door for Jaxson Hayes and possibly Cam Redish.
Hayes, who appeared in 70 games in 12.5 minutes for the Lakers last season, seems to have the inside track on the backup center job. Hayes is an athletic big who is supremely efficient around the rim offensively and a solid offensive rebounder. The 24-year-old big is also a capable shot blocker and an outstanding perimeter defender.
Hayes had a strong preseason, especially defensively and on the glass. Hayes compiled 5.8 points on 55.6% shooting from the field, 6.0 rebounds (2.3 offensive), and 1.0 blocks in 20 minutes. He grabbed at least six boards on four occasions and recorded a block in five of the six contests.
Redish is very versatile and started at power forward the last two preseason with Hachimura and LeBron James sitting out. However, Redish tallied 3.2 points and 2.2 rebounds while shooting 22.7/23.1/75 in 17.6 minutes over five appearances.
Other Possibilities
It is also possible rookie Dalton Knecht could see some minutes at the four due to Redish’s struggles. Knecht, a dead-eye shooter, had a fantastic preseason, averaging 18 points a game on 43.7% shooting from the field and 36.0% from deep.
Koloko, if he is cleared, and Colin Castleton, who are on two-way deals, are also options as injury replacements. Koloko saw action in 58 games for Toronto as a rookie in 2022-23 but hasn’t played since due to health issues. Castleton, who appeared in 16 games for the Lakers a season, is serviceable in limited minutes. He is a good rebounder and efficient around the rim.
Another option for the Lakers to fill their frontcourt hole is making a trade. ESPN’s Shams Charania said yesterday that the Lakers were exploring the trade market, although he didn’t mention any names.
The problem is that the Lakers don’t really have any trade assets on their 15-man roster, which is full and set. The ones they do have are off limits. It is conceivable that the Lakers look to flip youngsters Jalen Hood-Schifino and Maxwell Lewis along with draft capital for a reserve big. But I’m not sure if either player has a market, so it would likely be a salary dump trade for the other squad.
Los Angeles can’t trade a first-round pick until 2029, though it can swap its 2030 and 2031 selections. The Lakers do have two 2025 second-round picks, as well as their 2030 and 2031 second-round picks.
Bronny James Has a Fantastic Final Preseason Game
Bronny James has been much maligned since being selected by the Lakers with the No. 55 overall pick in this June’s draft. While James has been praised for his defensive efforts throughout training camp, he has struggled on the offensive end. However, that changed against Golden State on Friday night — at least for one night.
Playing a career-high 35 minutes as every Lakers regular sat out, James pumped in an inefficient 17 points on 7 of 17 shooting, including 1 of 5 from the 3-point line. He also added four rebounds, three steals, and one assist while being whistled for four fouls and posting a -37 plus/minus rating.
James’ 17 points were the most by a rookie who was chosen with the No. 55 overall pick since Mike Taylor topped the 20-point mark twice during the 2008 preseason as a member of the Los Angeles Clippers. Taylor was selected by Portland but traded to LA on draft day.
“It just a great feeling to go out there and not think as much as I do and just play,” Bronny James said after the game. “[It gives me] just a little bit of confidence going into the season even though I might not be in that rotation, might not be playing, but just going into practice, maybe G League games with that confidence in myself to go out there and play my game,”
James finished the preseason with 4.2 points and 1.7 rebounds while shooting 29.7/8.3/50.
More Lakers Notes
As mentioned above, LA has 15 players on standard contracts and three on two-way deals—Castleton, Koloko, and Armel Traore. The Lakers made a trio of roster moves on Friday prior to their last preseason game. They cut Jordan Goodwin and rookie Kylor Kelly while inking Grayson Murphy to a training camp deal, per Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
Goodwin and Kelly didn’t have much of a chance to make the squad, and each player only saw six minutes in one preseason game. Murphy has been playing professionally in Germany since going undrafted out of Belmont in 2021.
With Friday’s moves, the Lakers are down to 20 players in training camp. However, Murphy is expected to be waived shortly and join Goodwin along with Goodwin with the G-League South Bay Lakers.
Quincy Olivari
Once Murphy is waived, the Lakers will presumably have a decision concerning Quincy Olivari. Olivari, who went undrafted out of Xavier this year, is on an Exhibit 10 deal but has impressed the Lakers.
“He has an infectious spirit and soul about him,” Redick told Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times.. “It’s not that he’s some super-talkative, boisterous guy. But he just carries himself well. He carries himself with intent. His work ethic is really high. And I think people respond to that.
“He takes the game very seriously,” Redick said. “He’s a player who, I talk about care factor, he’s a player who has a care factor for doing it the right way and wanting to execute whatever vision you give him. I’m excited that he’s in our program, I really am. We look at him as a coaching staff in very high regard.”
Like James, Olivari took advantage of the extended opportunity to showcase his ability against the Warriors on Friday. In 39 minutes, the 6-2 rookie guard tallied 22 points on 8 of 16 shooting, including 5 of 9 from the 3-point line. He added seven rebounds and two assists, although he had seven turnovers.
Should Olivari Earn A Two-Way Deal?
Olivari finished the preseason with 8.8 points, 2.0 3-pointers, and 3.5 rebounds while shooting 52.2/57.1/100.
“I just want a job in the NBA,” Olivari told McMeniman after the game against the Warriors. “Like, it’s the only thing I’ve wanted since I was like 5 years old, and my dad always said my biggest gift is my energy. Energy can never be created or destroyed, only transferred. So I bring energy to whatever team wants me, and I bring every group up.”
Olivari is likely to end up with the South Beach Lakers, but it is conceivable that the Lakers decide to keep him and release one of their two-way players. If that is the case, Traore appears to be the most likely to be waived.
Traore had a decent preseason, compiling 4.3 points on 43.8% shooting and 4.3 rebounds. He finished with six points and seven boards in 28 minutes against the Warriors.
