Lakers Rumors: 'Sense' LA Needs to Include 1st-Round Pick to Trade Jarred Vanderbilt

In order for the Los Angeles Lakers to receive a valuable piece in return for a trade package including power forward Jarred Vanderbilt, The Athletic's Jovan Buha believes they will need to include a first-round pick along with another player.

"For the Lakers to include Vando, they would probably have to put a first round pick just as an attachment to Vando," Buhan said (1:02:00 mark). "Forget the other stuff that your giving up... That's the one issue is that for this to work, it would actually be one first (round pick) and Rui (Hachimura) and a player and then probably a first (round pick) to Toronto or Chicago to take on Vando's salary."

Vanderbilt is currently under four-year, $48 million contract with the Lakers, a sizable contract to take on for opposing teams as the 25-year-old is averaging 5.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 20 minutes.

"He has three more years left. He is a player who is offensively limited, has dealt with injuries and a lot of people view that as a very negative contract so, that's the complicating factor here," Buha added."

As the Lakers desperately search for a backup center to add to their lineup, they are reportedly putting Vanderbilt and Hachimura on the market.

The NBA trade deadline is Feb. 6 and with it fast approaching, the Lakers will need to act quickly to make some moves.