Why is the $48 million extension that they agreed to with Jarred Vanderbilt a good thing for the Los Angeles Lakers?
With the forward’s services now secure, the Lakers took another step toward building a solid core, as they look to improve on a disappointing last campaign.
While it’s clear that LeBron James is still the centerpiece of the Lakers setup, recent moves in the market suggest that the team is already planning for life after James’ career ends. By the looks of things, the franchise appears to be doing a good job.
Lakers and Jarred Vanderbilt agree to an extension
According to reports, the Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to a four-year, $48 million extension with Jarred Vanderbilt. It is understood that the deal is fully guaranteed with a player option in the final season, which if you’re wondering would be 2027-28. The extension itself will begin in the 2024-25 season during which Vanderbilt is set to make $4.7 million in what will actually be the final year of his current contract. The latest in a string of moves, Vanderbilt’s deal is yet another example of how the Lakers are seemingly set on constructing a team that has a youthful foundation and is equipped to cope with the inevitable departure of LeBron James.
Why is this good news for the Lakers?
Consider for a moment, that we’ve already seen the Lakers draft Jalen Hood-Schifino with the 17th overall pick, as well as take on Jaxson Hayes, 27-year-old Gabe Vincent, and of course Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves, both of whom are 25, to three- and four-year extensions, respectively. This is all to say that acquiring Vanderbilt for an average annual salary of $12 million is actually a very good deal for all involved. Clearly adept on defense and equally as prolific on offense, Vanderbilt is a solid player. It is true that his shooting could do with some improvement, however, one would have to expect that we will see him and the team addressing that in the coming campaign.
Ultimately, at 6-foot-8 and very mobile, Vanderbilt poses a real problem for opposing teams. Should his shooting improve, he could well become one of the team’s most potent weapons, something that’s even sweeter when one considers the numbers involved in his new deal.