The Los Angeles Lakers are fighting to stay in contention for the Play-In Tournament and they are desperate for a fully healthy roster.
Sadly, they received some very bad news on Tuesday.
According to Bill Reiter of CBS Sports, Lakers players Christian Wood, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Gabe Vincent will miss the rest of the season.
Reiter said there is a chance that Vanderbilt might still return but “the expectation is that will not happen.”
Sources tell @CBSSports that Los Angeles Lakers players Christian Wood, Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent will miss the rest of the season. While Vanderbilt still could return, sources say, the expectation is that will not happen. @espn first reported the news on Wood.
— Bill Reiter (@sportsreiter) March 19, 2024
Earlier in the day, it was reported that Wood was going to be out for at least a few more weeks as he deals with a knee injury.
But this new reporting from Reiter confirms that he will be gone for more than several weeks and won’t suit up again for the Lakers this season.
As for Vincent, his absence is very disappointing because it seemed like he was headed in the right direction and could be ready to play with the team again soon.
He has only played in five games this season, averaging 5.4 points, 1 rebound, and 3 assists.
The news about Vanderbilt is perhaps the most disappointing of all because he did the most during his time with the team this year.
The 24-year-old forward averaged 5.2 points and 4.8 rebounds per game and made a name for himself as a strong defensive talent who helped the Lakers at crucial times.
Because the team has so many problems when it comes to defense, they really wanted Vanderbilt back and it was assumed that he’d be ready to play in the postseason.
Now that the Lakers know all three of these stars aren’t returning in 2023-24, they can make plans to try and fill the voids that have been left.
NEXT: Lakers Forward To Undergo A Procedure On His Knee