
Lakers' Jarred Vanderbilt's Return Delayed to January Due to Knee Injury
Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt's return is delayed due to fluid in his left knee, with a target return in early January. Vanderbilt, who had offseason procedures on both feet, has been absent from the Lakers' current road trip and will be evaluated by team doctors soon. His absence has impacted the Lakers' defense and rotation, as they struggle with a 24th defensive rating and a 12-9 record this season. Vanderbilt signed a four-year, $48 million contract extension in 2023 but has played only 29 out of 109 games since then.













