Jared Vanderbilt has demonstrated limited ways to contribute offensively. but this will need to improve for him to earn minutes with the Lakers next season.
A pivotal offseason awaits the Lakers as they build around the newly acquired Luka Dončić, along with LeBron James and, presumably, Austin Reaves.
One name taking up a significant salary spot is Jared Vanderbilt, whose lack of offensive skills makes him untenable for any real rotation minutes without a sizable jump in aggression and production next season.
During the 2023 trade deadline, the Lakers completed the blockbuster move of trading away Russell Westbrook. D’Angelo Russell headlined the return, along with Michael Beasley and versatile swingman Vanderbilt. A Western Conference Finals run ensued, with the 6’9 Swiss army knife playing pivotal roles in different rounds.
He earned a four-year extension that summer, but injuries decimated the following seasons. Vanderbilt played in just 65 games the next two years. Even in brief returns to the floor, the already challenged offensive player took a clear step back on that end, making him virtually unplayable.
The modern NBA is not kind to players who can’t shoot, especially those who aren’t big men. Even the stoutest defensive players have some offensive functionality and ability to be a threat. The playoffs have demonstrated that even defensive first players such as Lu Dort and Jaden McDaniels have added multiple progressions to their offensive games.
Vanderbilt’s play dissolved into one who became entirely unwilling to take shots from not only outside, but anywhere on the floor, a death knell for minutes on any team, let alone a contending one.
That said, during his short Lakers tenure, he demonstrated some offensive utility that helped him earn his current contract and generated anticipation among fans awaiting his return after his absence due to injury. One area is as a playmaker, where arguably his greatest strengths —like his ball handling— are leveraged.
Screen partners that aren’t rolling lob threats or vertical spacers operate frequently in the short roll. When paired with a skilled on-ball player, they can take advantage of three-on-two situations.
Notice in the clip below as Vanderbilt comes to set a screen for Austin Reaves on the wing. Vanderbilt catches the ball against a rotating defense, and one dribble to the paint opens the pass to the corner for Dorian Finney-Smith.
Another example, shown below, features a high ball screen for Dončić. The Wolves blitz the pick and roll, leaving Vanderbilt the opportunity to drive and find LeBron for the lob.
Both of those plays only exist if the player in the short roll shows an assertive attack, rendering him a threat to score. These signs of aggression were few and far between. As efficiency suffered, so did the inclination to attack.
Per NBA’s tracking data, Vanderbilt shot just 60% on shots in the restricted area-layups and dunks, ranking last on the team for players that took at least one per game. His attempts at the rim showed very little conviction, often telegraphing the shot to rim protectors and going up wild or out of control.
In a crunch time situation against the Nuggets, watch below as Reaves drives and spoon feeds Vanderbilt a layup at the basket, but he misses everything.
In addition to his struggles at the basket, Vando shot an astonishing 20% on shots in the paint from outside the restricted area, such as floaters and runners.
These are shots he has to convert. Whether it’s a confidence issue or being unable to lift from the injuries, it’s an area he’s got to fix in order to qualify for legit minutes next season.
Vanderbilt will never be mistaken for a sniper from the outside, and he doesn’t need to. He has to demonstrate a willingness to take the wide-open ones. During the last two regular seasons, he showed the readiness to take the open corner three, converting at a 36% clip.
That number isn’t going to cause defenses to race to rotate out to the contest, but it demonstrates a baseline for him to work with.
Vanderbilt is entering his tenth year in the league, making significant improvements unlikely. The defensive boost Vanderbilt gives the Lakers when on the floor is unquestionable. His high motor and intense on-ball defense, combined with his frame, are highly valued traits by any team.
Without a baseline level of offense to earn playing time, those defensive chops become much less significant. Unless the Lakers see some steady improvement on that end, they will have to look elsewhere for a rotation wing.
You can follow Raj on Twitter at @RajChipalu.