Lakers secure Jarred Vanderbilt's long-term future

Vanderbilt made 26 regular-season appearances for the Lakers last season, with the 24-year-old averaging 7.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.2 steals during those outings. Vanderbilt's defensive versatility was a core reason behind the Lakers' midseason resurgence. 

As such, Rob Pelinka's move to extend Vanderbilt's tenure on the Golden Coast is logical. Young, defensively versatile forwards are a rare commodity in the NBA, especially when they can also consistently produce on the offensive end. 

Recently, the Lakers have been short on young talent. Too many ill-conceived trades drained their asset pool. Now, with Rui Hachimura and Vanderbilt on the roster, the Lakers have options. Both forwards are capable of becoming key cogs in the Los Angeles rotation. They're also likely to see their trade values rise throughout their contracts. 

Positive equity within a roster is a valuable tool. LeBron James isn't getting any younger. Pelinka needs to prepare for his inevitable departure. Vanderbilt could be a key component in the Lakers' next star trade. So could Hachimura and Austin Reaves. Young talents have incredible value in the trade market. 

The Lakers aren't known for developing their own stars. They prefer to trade for them instead, stockpiling viable trade pieces including draft assets and reasonable contracts. Vanderbilt is both valuable and will no be on a reasonable deal. It may not be this year, but there's every chance we see the defensive forward traded before his new contract expiries.

Still, in the immediate, the Lakers will look to win a championship, further driving up the value of younger players like Vanderbilt. The decision to extend the young forward makes sense on every level for both parties. The Lakers have been crushing their roster construction throughout 2023.