Lakers Rumors: Jarred Vanderbilt Not Expected to Miss Season Opener Despite Injury

Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt has missed time in the preseason due to a left heel injury, although it is not expected to keep him out of the team's regular season opener.

According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, the Lakers have been "monitoring soreness" in Vanderbilt's heel although he's fully expected to be available for their matchup against the Denver Nuggets on Oct. 24.

Vanderbilt averaged 7.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per game on 53 percent shooting after he arrived in Los Angeles due to a midseason trade with the Utah Jazz in 2023.

The 24-year-old recently signed a four-year, $48 million contract extension to remain in the purple and gold for the foreseeable future.

Vanderbilt recorded 37 starts as a Laker, including 13 in the postseason during Los Angeles' Western Conference Finals run. Despite being a bit undersized at 6'9", he's an excellent defender who is also constantly active on the glass.

It's not surprising that the Lakers finished with a record of 18-8 in games that Vanderbilt suited up in.

He was originally selected with the 41st overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, spending his rookie year with the Nuggets. Vanderbilt was then dealt to the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2020 as part of a four-team trade headlined by Clint Capela moving to the Atlanta Hawks and Malik Beasley heading to Minnesota.

He spent the first half of the 2022-23 season in Utah before he was acquired by the Lakers on Feb. 8, the same deal that resulted in Russell Westbrook leaving Los Angeles.

Vanderbilt will have 11 more days to rest before the start of the regular season. In the meantime, the Lakers' next preseason game is against the Golden State Warriors on Friday night. Tip-off is at 10 p.m. ET.