There have been conflicting reports about the Los Angeles Lakers’ injury woes over the past several days. Gabe Vincent, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Christian Wood are all sidelined with respective injuries, and there have been rumors that neither of these three players will be able to return this season.
Coach Darvin Ham, however, recently stated that both Vincent and Vanderbilt are progressing well and that they expect both players to return to action soon. At this point, it’s hard to deny that Lakers fans have been left a bit confused by all this.
Have Los Angeles Lakers Given Up on Season?
A new report has now emerged that will surely add even more uncertainty to the team’s immediate future. According to Anthony Irwin of Lakers Daily, both Vincent and Vanderbilt are NOT expected to play again in 2023-24. Irwin points out that the team has “operated as if they aren’t going to get” Vanderbilt, in particular, back for the remainder of the campaign.
In fact, it appears that the Lakers have known that there was a very small chance the 6-foot-8 forward would return this year after suffering a mid-foot sprain in early February. Irwin reports that this bit of information played an integral role in LA’s decision-making during the NBA trade deadline:
“Some within the organization have even explained that the Lakers’ inactivity at the deadline was due in part to thinking this season was beyond salvation after [Vanderbilt’s] injury — which they considered season-ending at the time,” Irwin reported.
It is unclear if the Lakers have had a change of heart since the trade deadline — or if this waving the white flag report is even true in the first place. After all, so long as you have LeBron James on your team, there’s still always a chance, right?
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