A season-ending surgery? Jarred Vanderbilt's latest injury report update

The Los Angeles Lakers have now a two-game winning record against two of the best teams in the West and the NBA, but bad news continues as their forward Jarred Vanderbilt will be missing for multiple weeks.

Vanderbilt already missed the first twenty games in the season, and the rest when he was available only had five games on his best level, and now will be missing multiple games and even could have a season-ending surgery.

With Vanderbilt set to miss extended time, the Lakers could alter their trade deadline strategy, via Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN: “I’m told that Jarred Vanderbilt has suffered what was described to me as a significant right foot injury. There’s concern that he could be lost for the rest of the season. They’re consulting with specialists this weekend going through that foot injury on Vanderbilt. But at the minimum, I’m told, he’s out for several weeks and could very well be out for the rest of the season.

“The Lakers have been without Gabe Vincent along with Jarred Vanderbilt, maybe their two best point of attack defenders for most of the season with Vincent out. And now that certainly has to figure into the calculus for the Lakers, for Rob Pelinka as they head into the final days before Thursday’s trade deadline because this is not a marketplace right now where there are a lot of difference makers available and the Lakers do not have significant assets to add to this team. And now, if you’re bringing in a player how much does he move the needle with a team that very well could be without Vanderbilt now for the rest of the season. The Lakers could get to the offseason, have three first round picks available in the summer to do deals. They’ll keep working at it until Thursday, but Vanderbilt, the possibility of him being lost for the season now impacts trade deadline, too.”

Vanderbilt's absence changes the Lakers' trading plans

Without Vanderbilt, Los Angeles has to wonder whether or not they’ll truly be able to compete if he’s unable to return by the end of the year. Perhaps a minor deal can still be had, but losing Vanderbilt would be a huge blow to the team’s perimeter defense.