A source close to the deal tells The Associated Press that the Los Angeles Lakers and forward Jarred Vanderbilt have agreed to a four-year, $48 million contract extension.

Due to the Lakers’ silence on the matter, the source who spoke to the AP on the matter did so under anonymity. In the fourth year of the deal, the player has the opportunity to opt out.

A Crucial Cog in the Wheel

After acquiring Vanderbilt from the Jazz in February, he swiftly established himself as a rotation regular for the Lakers’ stunning stretch run to the Western Conference finals.

While Vanderbilt was not a huge оffensive contributor this season, he did average 7.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per game while being forced to routinely guard opposing teams’ leading scorers. Vanderbilt started for the Lakers in 13 of their 15 playoff games and 24 regular season games.

Vanderbilt started his NBA career in Denver after being picked by Orlando in the second round in 2018. Before being traded to Utah last summer, he played in 140 games for Minnesota over the course of three seasons.

General manager Rоb Pelinka spent the offseason either strengthening or securing the nucleus of last year’s squad around LeBron James and Anthony Davis, and the Lakers finished 18-8 and won two rounds in the playoffs as a result.

Vanderbilt, Davis, D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, and Rui Hachimura have all signed contract extensions with the Lakers, while the team has also acquired Jaxson Hayes, Taurean Prince, Gabe Vincent, Cam Reddish, and Christian Wood.