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Jarred Vanderbilt signs extension with Lakers

The 24-year-old forward became a key rotation player during Los Angeles' late-season run to the 2023 Western Conference Finals.

Vanderbilt averaged 7.2 points and 6.7 rebounds in 26 regular-season games with Los Angeles last season.

LOS ANGELES  — Five-year forward Jarred Vanderbilt officially signed a contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers, the team announced Monday. The deal is reportedly for four years and $48 million, including a player option in the fourth year per multiple reports. 

 

The Lakers acquired Vanderbilt from Utah in February, and he quickly became a key rotation player during their impressive late-season run to the Western Conference finals.

While not a major offensive contributor, Vanderbilt averaged 7.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per game in the regular season while frequently being asked to guard the opponents’ top scorer. Vanderbilt started 24 regular-season games and started 13 of the Lakers’ 15 playoff games.

After Orlando drafted Vanderbilt in the second round in 2018, he began his NBA career in Denver. He joined Minnesota for 140 games over parts of three seasons before the Jazz acquired him last summer.

The Lakers went 18-8 and then won two playoff rounds after dramatically improving their roster at the trade deadline, and general manager Rob Pelinka has spent the summer improving or locking down the core of last season’s team around LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

Los Angeles has agreed to contract extensions with Vanderbilt, Davis, D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura while acquiring Jaxson Hayes, Taurean Prince, Gabe Vincent, Cam Reddish and Christian Wood.

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