Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt and guard Gabe Vincent have both seen their stints with the team marred by injuries.
Vanderbilt is in his fourth campaign with the storied franchise (and his third full one) but has suited up in just 120 regular-season contests since coming over. Meanwhile, Vincent, who’s is in his third season as a Laker, has just 101 total regular-season appearances with them to his name.
With the February trade deadline not all that far off, the Lakers are reportedly looking to parlay those players into a wing to add to the fold. NBA insider Kevin O’Connor relayed as much during a recent episode of his show.
“Well, here’s what I’m hearing about the Lakers,” O’Connor said. “… So, with the Lakers, the word on the street is that they’re looking to package Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent together for a wing.
“Now, the really interesting thing with them is they’ve been shopping around their future 2032 first-round pick for multiple first-round draft picks, similar to what the [Phoenix] Suns did a year ago when they traded their 2031 pick to the [Utah] Jazz for three lesser firsts in ’25, ’27 and ’29.
“So, it seems like the Lakers are looking out for two or three future firsts that are worse than their — worse individually — than their future first, which giving them more parts to put together in like Vincent plus Vanderbilt or Vincent plus [Maxi] Kleber types of packages.
“And so, the Lakers are definitely looking for a wing. I think they definitely have interest in Herb Jones. Probably too pricey, Trey Murphy. [Jonathan] Kuminga, maybe. Maybe the [Golden State] Warriors, maybe as a third team. Maybe we’re gonna see a situation…where Kuminga gets sent to the Lakers for filler plus a pick, and then the Warriors send that pick plus other assets to go get a M.P.J. (Michael Porter Jr.) or a Trey Murphy or something like that.
“But that’s my understanding right now with what the Lakers are angling to do with their future picks and with the guys on the existing roster.”
Of all the potential trade targets that O’Connor mentioned the Lakers could pursue, Kuminga is a name that’s getting a lot of attention in the NBA world right now. He’s made it clear that he wants out of Golden State, as ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Thursday morning that he has demanded a trade away from the Warriors.
The Lakers are said to have some interest in him, per multiple reports. Kuminga has warmed the bench for a middling Warriors team for the last month or so, and it’s hard to envision a scenario where he doesn’t get moved before February’s deadline.
He also might be the only player mentioned who the Lakers could trade for without giving up everything and the kitchen sink. There has been chatter that the New Orleans Pelicans’ asking price for Jones is high, which also likely signals that they wouldn’t accept anything less for Murphy.
Kuminga stands out as someone who could fit the Lakers’ post-LeBron James timeline, as he won’t turn 24 years old until next October and may still have some untapped potential at the NBA level in addition to the production he has already shown.
Whether it’s Kuminga or someone else, hopefully Los Angeles will be able to bring in a player who can aid in the team’s pursuit of its 18th title in franchise history in 2026. Los Angeles is in the mix in the Western Conference this season and owns the No. 5 seed along with a 24-14 record.
