Heading into the weekend, whispers about the health of Jarred Vanderbilt, who missed most of last season with foot problems, started getting a little louder, with reports that he might not be ready for the start of training camp next month. Not good! Well, Monday brought news that was wasn't exactly great, either.

Backup center Christian Wood, who himself missed much of last season with health problems, underwent surgery to repair the same left knee that was operated on in March. This about a week after declaring on social media that he was back and on a mission to prove himself. Well, that's going to have to wait. He's out a minimum of eight weeks, at which time the Lakers will re-evaluate Wood and figure out next steps. (Eight weeks stretches into early November.)

With Vanderbilt (potentially) on the shelf, the loss of Wood is even more significant. But even if Vanderbilt is available, Wood was expected to be a big addition to the frontcourt, providing JJ Redick with optionality Darvin Ham didn't have last year. Like Vanderbilt, Wood possesses a skill set that can't be replicated at his position by anyone else on the roster. In Wood's case, his frontcourt scoring ability, along with his rebounding, really can't be reproduced, given that the only other center on the team is Jaxson Hayes.

And, as a reminder, the Lakers really aren't in position to add anyone. Not that the streets are crawling with potential solutions to this problem.

It's a tough way to enter training camp for a team already fighting negative vibes from a very, very inactive offseason.

And it's something that's not going to have anyone feeling any better about the team's ability to keep guys healthy, even if this particular recurrence is nobody's fault.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Christian Wood gets surgery, again.

SEGMENT 2: What the Lakers lose without Wood.

SEGMENT 3: Bad vibes get badder.

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All summer long, Lakers fans have been talking about the value of Jarred Vanderbilt, which was driven home by his inability to stay on the floor last year. With (basically) the same team returning this year, one major spot where the Lakers might generate internal improvement would be having Vanderbilt available again, providing significant optionality for new coach JJ Redick.

Well... maybe not?

Throughout the offseason, it's been noted that there has been precious little in terms of positive updates around Vanderbilt and his injured foot. Nothing of him on the court or working out at the facility. And now the whispers that Vanderbilt's rehab may not be going great have been amplified. Spectrum Sportsnet's Mike Bresnahan noted heading into the weekend that Vanderbilt might not be ready when training camp kicks off in a few weeks.

Vanderbilt, who elected not to have surgery over the summer, could theoretically recover in time for the season to start—and it's not definitive that he'll not be ready for camp —but it's unquestionably distressing to see that he may not be on track. It raises fears that the injury could linger and cause him to miss games. And the Lakers are no better equipped today to deal with his absence than they were a year ago. Any limitation on Vanderbilt's ability to contribute at his full capacity would be a major blow to the team.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Will Jarred Vanderbilt be ready for the season?

SEGMENT 2: What happens if Vando can't go?

SEGMENT 3: Redick not concerned about LeBron, A.D. and the Olympics. And could LeBron go in '28... in another sport?

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The Lakers are, most observers believe, stuck. They don't have a lot of stuff to trade - not that other teams want, at least - nor are there all that many players out there to acquire. Not without giving up a ton for questionable gains (trading picks for Jerami Grant, for example).

There is, of course, one exception. A guy seemingly on the block permanently, who wouldn't cost a lot (well, not in some ways) and offered by motivated sellers. That's Chicago's Zach LaVine.

To this point, the Lakers have reportedly shown no interest, but at least according to one unnamed NBA executive, they probably should. Dan Woike of the LA Times passes along the analysis in his weekly newsletter. Would LaVine be a good idea? Is there a construction of this trade where it actually would be the sort of thing the Lakers would be foolish to turn down?

Have we reached a point where the anti-LaVine sentiment is overstated?

What's the case to be made?

From there, it's a continuation of the continuity discussion. ESPN noted the Lakers have a ton of it. But is that a good thing, in context?

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: Is it LaVine time?

SEGMENT 2: Is there a context where LaVine becomes a good idea?

SEGMENT 3: Fun "best of's..." for Lakers non-HOFers...

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