Los Angeles Lakers Reportedly "Plan" To Keep This Player

According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, the Los Angeles Lakers "plan" to keep Jarred Vanderbilt next season.

The Los Angeles Lakers have arguably had the most impressive turnaround in the NBA this season.

At one point, they looked like they had no chance to make the NBA Playoffs, but the Lakers were one of the best teams in the league following the All-Star break and are the seventh seed in the Western Conference.     

One of the biggest reasons the Lakers played better was the moves they made before the trading deadline.    

The team acquired several players, including Jarred Vanderbilt, D'Angelo Russell and Malik Beasley.

Vanderbilt has a team option for the 2023-24 season, and according to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, the Lakers intend to keep him.  

Via Buha's article in The Athletic: "Vanderbilt has a $4.7 million team option for next season, one the Lakers plan on exercising."

If it seems like Jarred Vanderbilt plays like he's trying to make up for lost time, it's because he is.

After multiple foot injuries, Vando had to reinvent himself at Kentucky. Now, after bouncing around the NBA, he's emerged as a critical piece in LA. https://t.co/ImjeQD9zkm pic.twitter.com/72c4coER83

— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) April 12, 2023

Vanderbilt has been an excellent role player for the Lakers, and is averaging 7.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.2 steals per contest over 26 games. 

The former Kentucky star is also shooting 52.9% from the field.  

Before the Lakers, Vanderbilt spent time with the Utah Jazz and Minnesota Timberwolves. 

The Lakers finished the regular season 43-39, and went 8-2 over their final ten games. 

After beating the Timberwolves in Tuesday's play-in tournament game (to clinch the seventh seed in the Western Conference), the Lakers will now head to Tennessee to face off with Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. 

Game 1 will be on Sunday afternoon. 

More on the Los Angeles Lakers can be read here