Lakers Roster: Bronny James’ Opening Night Chances Rise After Updates on Jarred Vanderbilt & Christian Wood

More than failure, the Lakers’ last campaign can be termed as frustrating. The franchise suffered an injury plage to some of their core rotation pieces, Vanderbilt being among them. The energetic forward was restricted to just 29 games last year. After suffering a foot sprain, he tried to delay surgery in hopes of making his ravening defensive impact during the postseason. But the Purple and Gold didn’t have ample ammunition to survive the grueling series against the Nuggets, sidelining Vando for the entire season. But now, he is entering with a hopeful spirit.

Just a week ago, Pelinka revealed Vanderbilt’s offseason surgeries on both his legs. His progress has since been impressive, but it did come with its challenges. Due to him getting a procedure on his legs at once, the 25-year-old describes rehab to be “pretty tough” but is anxious about following the necessary procedures to make a successful return to the court.

So far, he is yet to be cleared for any on-court activities. While he has been listed on the training camp roster, Vando will likely occupy himself doing gruesome rehab to make as early a comeback as he can. A positive though is that he “had a great recovery” post-surgery and has begun working his way through. As soon as he passes the “eye test and how I feel test”, Vanderbilt is confident about stepping back on the court with his Laker teammates.

Vando gives an injury update pic.twitter.com/Qy84THJ8Ne

— Lakers Lead (@LakersLead) September 30, 2024

In terms of opening night, the franchise is still holding out hopes that Vanderbilt will have fully recovered by the time they face the Minnesota Timberwolves. But if not, he will join Christian Wood, who won’t be re-evaluated until 6 weeks as players missing from the roster. The injuries could provide the young crop of the Lakers a greater chance to put their sneakers on during the opening night.

In particular, the spotlight shines on Bronny James. LeBron James is twitching to be on an NBA floor with his eldest. The thin roster could enable the historic feat to take place on opening night, as some reports have claimed in the past. Apart from them, every other player is in great spirits and healthy to participate. Gabe Vincent and Cam Reddish are some components to watch out for during the Lakers’ season opener.

The Lakers will hope for Jared Vanderbilt to return soon

Vanderbilt only played in 26 games during the final stretch of the Purple and Gold. Even though arriving after the deadline, his vivacious display quickly appealed to fans. The 6’8″ forward helps the Lakers establish their defensive identity. As a lengthy forward, his tenacity and grit provide the club with a hostile on-ball defender.

Particularly, with him injected into the system, the Lakers were among the best defenses following the dreading deadline. The tradition continued this season. In his 29 games, the Lakers had a defensive rating of 109.4. Compare it to the NBA, and it would rank above the excruciating contingent of the Boston Celtics. It’s a number good enough to rank second in the league.

Without him, it’s a completely different story. Throughout the season with Vando off the court, the Lakers’ defensive rating inflated to 115.1. His insatiable pressure and versatility to hound multiple positions enables the Lake Show to play with tremendous fuel. While his shooting has waned, Vando can still occasionally knock down vital shots.

JJ Redick is already itching to implement him into his updated Laker schemes. “He can change the energy of an entire game, and he doesn’t have to do it with scoring, which makes him really unique. I can’t wait to coach him. Obviously, he has some rehab to do for the rest of the summer, but when he’s healthy, he’s going to be a big part of what we do,” he said.

Near the rim, he uses his great size and athleticism to generate a simple offense, relying mostly on his off-ball movements. Around playmakers, Vando is a lingering threat that alters defenses. Change ends and he haunts the ball handler through his disruptive activity. He was arguably the missing piece last season. And without question, the front office will pray he can mark his return as soon as possible.