Lakers move D'Angelo Russell to bench, start Jarred Vanderbilt - ESPN

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Los Angeles Lakers are shuffling their starting lineup at the same time they are likely to lose one of their reserve guards for the foreseeable future.

Jarred Vanderbilt will replace D'Angelo Russell in the starting lineup for Saturday night's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Lakers coach Darvin Ham said. The rest of the starters — LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Taurean Prince and Cam Reddish — will remain the same.

«We chose to lean into our defensive side of the ball,» Ham said of the change. «And when you play great defense, it makes the offense a little bit easier. And so, just wanted to lean into that side of the ball. Start out a little bit bigger.»

Russell's move to the bench comes while minutes are opening in L.A.'s backcourt.

Gabe Vincent, who returned from a seven-week absence because of swelling in his left knee to play 14 minutes against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday, is considering an arthroscopic procedure on the knee that would sideline him six to eight weeks, sources told ESPN.

The knee started to swell again after the Chicago game, causing Vincent to miss Thursday's contest against the Minnesota Timberwolves and Saturday's game against the Thunder.

The decision on the procedure is expected to be made as soon as Sunday, sources told ESPN.

«You just have to make sure everything is well and good with him and his health first and foremost,» Ham said of Vincent. «And then you just try to activate Plan B, which is next man up, so to speak. But our No. 1 top priority is to just to make sure we know what's going on with him and put him in a position where he can get healthy.»

Russell's move to the bench will reunite him in the backcourt with Austin Reaves. The pair started the first