The Los Angeles Lakers were quite active in the offseason, even if they didn’t bring in any big names.
GM Rob Pelinka made it clear that he was looking forward to keeping the band together, as he and Darvin Ham were quite satisfied with what they saw in the second half of the season, and rightfully so.
They brought back D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, and Austin Reaves, and they added some depth with Cam Reddish, Christian Wood, Taurean Prince, Gabe Vincent, and Jaxson Hayes.
Now, they’ve made sure to keep another key rotation piece there for the long run.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Jarred Vanderbilt has agreed to a four-year contract extension worth $48 million.
Notably, the deal is fully guaranteed and includes a player option in the fourth year, and was negotiated by agent Erika Ruiz of Rich Paul’s Klutch Sports, the same firm that represents LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt has agreed on a four-year, $48 million contract extension with the franchise, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul and agent Erika Ruiz told @TheAthletic @Stadium. Deal is fully guaranteed with a player option in the fourth year. pic.twitter.com/4kuLlt8zeT
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 15, 2023
While not the flashiest player, Vanderbilt played a major role as soon as he arrived in Southern California.
His length allows him to guard both forward spots and some big men, and he can also stay in front of smaller and quicker players.
He can stretch the floor with his three-point shooting as well, and he became a fan favorite almost right away.
Pelinka and the Lakers front office are trying to retain their youth for the post-LeBron James era, and they’ve done a solid job of surrounding him with the kind of supporting cast that could actually step up and allow him to stay fresh for the playoffs.
NEXT: Myles Turner Has An Honest Admission About Playing Against LeBron James
