TNT (DR) / ESPN (DR)

The Lakers made their first trade this weekend, but that doesn’t mean it’s their last. However, among fans, the fate of another player is far from unanimous as we’ve seen.

With D’Angelo Russell gone, many Lakers fans are pretty happy. It must be said that the point guard has disappointed in recent years, especially in the playoffs where he was unable to raise his level of play. The Angelinos can now turn the page, even if another trade is possible before the February deadline.

After all, the franchise needs to keep a close eye on the NBA market if it really wants to have a chance at a title shot in a few months. Rob Pelinka has struck once, but he’ll continue to probe other teams for another opportunity. He has first-rounders to find a deal, as well as players to trade.

A curious untouchable Lakers player?

One of the possible contenders? Certainly Jarred Vanderbilt, injured for months and still unavailable to the point of frustrating fans. Many think that it is time to turn the page, but that is not the case for everyone. For some Internet users, Vanderbilt must be kept, regardless of the recent trade.

@Klutch_23 : “I’m not trading Jarred Vanderbilt. He’ll be back soon and he’ll remind everyone of his impact on winning.”

Vanderbilt remains a valuable player in defense and in terms of effort on the floor. His absence is unfortunately costly, so much so that JJ Redick acknowledged that he has defensive systems just for him… but that he has not yet been able to test.

But does everyone really agree on the subject? We’ll have to see, because Vanderbilt is not very gifted offensively either and with the arrival of Dorian Finney-Smith, his status could be called into question in the City of Angels.

@Educated_Kid24 : “Are we sure? Wasn’t he supposed to come back in the first week of the season? How many times has his return been postponed?”

@scizzorz24 : “Y’all are funny. Vando was unplayable in the playoffs and he still hasn’t played this season. He should be the next one traded because no one thinks he’s going to stay healthy with his game.”

@Danya348 : “We have to remember the 2023 playoffs. The further we got in the playoffs, the less he played.”

Is trading Jarred Vanderbilt a good idea? That question will have to be asked of the front office, especially after their recent trade on the market. And while some remain confident, others have lost patience for some time now.