The Los Angeles Lakers disappointed many of their fans this winter when they opted to not make any trades ahead of the trade deadline. There were plenty of rumors they were after good players such as Dejounte Murray and Bruce Brown, but in the end, they stood pat.
General manager Rob Pelinka said there were simply no trades to be had, and he made an analogy to not being able to buy a house that’s not for sale. But according to insider Anthony Irwin, the team also didn’t make a move because it felt the season wasn’t salvageable.
It felt that way due to a foot injury in late January that has sidelined Jarred Vanderbilt ever since.
Via Lakers Daily:
“While the Lakers would love to get Vanderbilt back and desperately need his energy, perimeter defense and physicality on the boards, they have operated as if they aren’t going to get him back,” wrote Irwin. “Some within the organization have even explained that the Lakers’ inactivity at the deadline was due in part to thinking this season was beyond salvation after his injury — which they considered season-ending at the time.”
Vanderbilt is one of the Lakers’ most important non-stars because of his effective and versatile defense, ability to help out on the defensive boards and overall energy. He missed the first several weeks of the season due to heel bursitis, but after returning, he was starting to find ways to contribute on offense, even though he is distinctly unskilled on that end of the floor.
He arrived in last season’s Russell Westbrook trade, and he was a catalyst behind their late-season run that took them all the way to the Western Conference Finals.
The team has also been without guard Gabe Vincent, another strong defender. He was out for most of November and December because of a knee ailment, and after playing one game in late December, he went back on the shelf and hasn’t played since.
Without Vanderbilt and Vincent, the Lakers have struggled on the defensive end. So far in March, they’re just 27th in defensive rating, and since the All-Star break, they have a 7-6 record while ranking 28th in defensive rating.
