Jarred Vanderbilt's return to the Lakers delayed by more issues

Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt hasn't played since he suffered a midfoot sprain on his right foot on Feb. 1, which cost him the remainder of L.A.'s 2023-24 campaign.

He's now missed the first 21 games of this season and it sounds as if Vanderbilt's return to the lineup will end up being delayed. He was ramping up after foot surgery on his right foot as well as surgery on his left foot to remove a bone spur, and as of November the news out of the Lakers' camp was that the recovery was looking fine. 

Now it's being reported by Shams Charania and Dave McMenamin of ESPN that Vanderbilt is experiencing fluid in his right knee as a result of his rehab. His return is being pushed back to an early January target date, which means he'll miss at least nine more games.

Vanderbilt was averaging 10.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game last season in his final eight games before his injury. He's known as a defensive stopper but has also had moments of being able to shoot the rock. He shot 66% from the field in the above stretch.

Unfortunately for him an the Lakers, he's been quite banged up, and that's putting it lightly. He's played in just 29 out of 109 possible games ever since he was signed to a four-year, $48M contract extension in September 2023.

According to the report, Vanderbilt will be examined by the team doctors after the Lakers' current four-game road trip, which concludes on Friday against the Atlanta Hawks. A six-year veteran out of Kentucky, Vanderbilt is currently not on that road trip with the Lakers.