Although the Los Angeles Lakers have been playing some of their best basketball of the 2024-25 season, there’s room for improvement as players like Jarred Vanderbilt and Christian Wood work their way back the court.
Neither Vanderbilt nor Wood has been able to play this season yet due to injury, though the former has been sorely missed as a true versatile defender and energy provider. Vanderbilt is one of the Lakers’ best defenders on the roster and the team has been forced to rely on others like Max Christie and newly-acquired Dorian Finney-Smith to handle the most difficult perimeter assignments.