General manager Rob Pelinka said Wednesday that Vanderbilt had successful procedures on both feet this offseason, and there's optimism the forward will be ready for Opening Night against the Timberwolves on Oct. 22, Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com reports.
Pelinka added that Vanderbilt had a lingering bone spur that was also cleared up during the procedures, which happened right after the 2023-24 season concluded. Vanderbilt was a key piece during the Lakers' run to the Western Conference Finals two years ago, but last season, the forward struggled to stay on the court, making just 29 regular-season appearances. Vanderbilt brings a defensive versatility that is hard to come by and will certainly have a role if he's healthy on Opening Night, though probably not one worth fantasy relevance outside of deeper leagues prioritizing defensive stats.