Vanderbilt still sidelined by heel soreness

Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt is expected to miss at least the next two weeks because of left heel soreness.

The Lakers announced Friday morning that Vanderbilt, who hasn't played in nearly three weeks, was re-examined by team doctors on Thursday.

The team said his left heel bursitis (inflammation) is improving and he'll be re-evaluated by the medical

staff in two weeks, with another update being provided at that time.

The Lakers have seven games in the next two weeks, wrapping up a fourgame road trip against the Phoenix Suns on Nov. 10.

Vanderbilt, a starter during the Lakers' run to the Western Conference finals last spring, played in only one of the team's six preseason games – the opener against the Golden State Warriors on Oct. 7.

With Vanderbilt sidelined, the Lakers have started Taurean Prince alongside D'Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, LeBron James and Anthony Davis to start the season.

The Lakers acquired the defensive-minded Vanderbilt from the Utah Jazz in February as part of their roster revamping ahead of the trade deadline.

Vanderbilt was a key contributor for the Lakers during their playoff run. He averaged 7.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 24 minutes across 26 regular-season games (24 starts) with the Lakers before averaging 4.6 points and 3.2 rebounds in 16.5 minutes across 15 games in the playoffs.

Vanderbilt, who is in the final season of a three-year, $13.1 million contract he signed in September 2021, signed a four-year, $48 million extension with the Lakers that will start next season.