According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, starting power forward Jarred Vanderbilt will miss the season opener against the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets due to heel раιn. However, there is no reason to believe he will miss the game.

This past summer, the Lakers were routed by Denver in the Western Conference Finals; the news could not have been better.
Not in the same way that Vanderbilt players dominate games or light up the tally sheet in the manner of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, or Austin Reaves. Despite being an effective shooter (52.9 percent from the floor), his per-game averages were a mere 7.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.6 assists.
He was adequate, but primarily served as an excellent complement to the team’s leaders.

The Lakers are in a favorable position because they require a consistent starting lineup to commence the impending season.
Davis missed 26 games and James missed 27 due to ιnjᴜry a year ago. It negatively impacted the team’s consistency in the starting makeup, which likely cost them victories and a higher seed in the postseason.

 

The team consolidated once it regained its health and progressed to the conference finals. As a result of a frenzy of offseason transactions that included Vanderbilt’s extension, Reaves’s new contract, and the acquisitions of Taurean Prince, Christian Wood, and Gabe Vincent, the City of Angels has high expectations.
Vanderbilt is a starter for the club and must maximize his playing time in the presence of D’Angelo Russell, James, Davis, and Reaves. The synergy that existed between him and the team a year ago must improve, and he must also solidify his position in the lineup.

In the event that Davis declines to play due to ιnjᴜry, Wood is prepared to enter the starting lineup immediately. Davis has previously stated that he would prefer the former Houston Rocket to assume Vanderbilt’s power forward position and hand over the center duties. Additionally, the team had Rui Hachimura, who was outstanding last season.
It is highly unlikely that the Lakers would want either of those outcomes to occur. A rationale existed for selecting Vanderbilt as the starting quarterback. They anticipate that he will advance to the power forward position and lead the Lakers to their first championship in three years.

In the contest against the Nuggets, his responsibility will be to defend Aaron Gordon and aid in slowing down a postseason offense that was previously unstoppable and dominant. He completed the necessary practice exercises before sustaining the ιnjᴜry and is the team’s most reliable individual in achieving that objective.
In his absence, the Lakers might encounter difficulties, including a 0-1 start record, inquiries regarding the lineup, and the possibility of roster reorganization.
They had not anticipated beginning the season with such promise.
Fortunately, McMenamin’s report indicates that this will probably not be a concern.