Does Jarred Vanderbilt's Return Make Rui Hachimura Expendable for the Lakers?

Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers welcomed Jarred Vanderbilt back to the lineup Saturday, and he was one of the highlights of LA's 118-108 win over Golden State.

It was barely more than 12 minutes of playing time, but it was enough to:

a) show a blueprint of what these Lakers look like with Vanderbilt available, and...

b) give a healthy chunk of the fanbase enough evidence that Rui Hachimura—who missed the game with a sore calf—is expendable.

It seems unlikely that anything anyone inside the organization saw in 12 minutes on Saturday changes how the Lakers view Rui. They knew what he was going in, they know what he is coming out. His strengths and weaknesses are well-understood, and if they Lakers were looking to upgrade from the minutes Hachimura gets before, they're still planning to do it. The grist he provides for the rumor mill is also a function of math. With D'Angelo Russell out the door, Hachimura has the highest salary among non-star players on the team. He's the next logical candidate (financially, at least) to go.

Fans like having a guy to blame things on, and for many, Hachimura is that guy.

But are fans being too cavalier about trading him? How reliable is Vando from this point through to the end of the year? And what does all of this have to do with LA's reported pursuit of another center?

It's an uncomfortable spot to be in, but it's where Rui will stay until the trade deadline brings some resolution.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: More reaction to Vando's return.

SEGMENT 2: Does Rui become expendable now?

SEGMENT 3: Remembering Kobe, 5 years after his passing.

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