The Minnesota Timberwolves may have a chance to bring back Jarred Vanderbilt this summer, as his days with the Lakers are likely over. Los Angeles wants to build around Luka Doncic, which has Lakers expert Svyatoslav Rovenchuk thinking Vando should be gone. Wolves superstar Anthony Edwards made it clear that Vanderbilt is one of his favorite teammates, and Minnesota will make moves this summer.
The Timberwolves aim to build a championship roster around Ant-Man. Edwards continues to prove that he is an elite playoff performer, but his supporting cast has not been strong enough. Minnesota will be searching for a star and looking to move on from Julius Randle. To round out their roster, anything could be on the table.
Vanderbilt spent two and a half seasons with the Wolves. They were the best years of his NBA career. He blossomed into part of the nightly rotation. Vando was starting and playing 25 minutes per game. Minnesota made the playoffs in his final year, but the Grizzlies knocked them out in the first round. Edwards is the key to bringing back Vanderbilt.
Anthony Edwards may try to get the Timberwolves to bring back Jarred Vanderbilt
Vando is a flawed player. He is a strong defender with size and versatility, but the offensive struggles are real. The 6’8 forward is a career 29.0 percent 3-point shooter. He lacks the playmaking or scoring chops to make up for it. It is why he has struggled to get on the floor in Los Angeles.
Vanderbilt was in and out of the Lakers' rotation this season, including in the playoffs. He appeared in the first five games of the first round series against the Houston Rockets before playing in just two of the LA's final five games. A finger injury played a role (subscription required), but his offensive issues didn’t help.
Vanderbilt has two years and more than $25 million remaining on his contract. The Lakers would love to trade him for a better fit next to Luka. The only avenue to getting out of his contract is to send him to a rebuilding team. If Vando wants to play for a contender, he may seek a buyout. His player option in 2027-28 gives him an easy out. He could decline that option and let the team move on by just paying his salary for next season.
Anthony Edwards would love to get Vando back to Minnesota, especially on a minimum contract. It would let Vanderbilt play for a contender and get paid mostly from his buyout. If he shines with the Wolves, a larger contract could be waiting after the 2026-27 season.
Los Angeles will likely find a way to move on. The Minnesota Timberwolves have to figure out their roster before even thinking about bringing back Jarred Vanderbilt, but fans know how this works. If the superstar wants a role player, they often end up with the franchise. Ant-Man has been clear that he misses playing with Vando. That means a reunion is possible whenever Vanderbilt is available.
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