According to NBA insider Anthony Irwin of Lakers Daily, Gabe Vincent and Jarred Vanderbilt are still unlikely to play this season for the Los Angeles Lakers despite some reports claiming they are close to returning.
Vincent has only played in five games this season. He underwent left knee surgery in December.
Meanwhile, Vanderbilt has played in 29 games this season. He’s currently out with a right mid-foot sprain.
“Despite recent reports to the contrary, sources close to the Los Angeles Lakers speaking on the condition of anonymity say it remains unlikely Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent play again this season,” Irwin wrote. “Both have missed several months this year with complicated injuries and between their actual recoveries and the required conditioning, odds are heavily against their return before the postseason, if at all.”
Vincent is averaging 5.4 points, 1.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists this season while shooting 37.5% from the field, 11.8% from beyond the arc and 50.0% from the foul line.
Vanderbilt, meanwhile, is averaging 5.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.2 blocks while shooting 51.8% from the field and 66.7% from the free-throw line. He has a plus-minus of +44.
The Lakers signed Vincent to a three-year, $33 million contract last summer in free agency and acquired Vanderbilt from the Utah Jazz last season. Vanderbilt signed a four-year, $48 million extension with LAL in September.
The Lakers are 37-32 on the season. They are in ninth place in the Western Conference standings. Despite being linked to several players, the front office didn’t make any trades at this year’s trade deadline.
Under head coach Darvin Ham, the Lakers are ninth in the NBA in points per game and 23rd in points per game allowed. Despite having LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Los Angeles is not a title contender this year.
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