Welcome to our Lakers Season Preview Series! For the next several weeks, we’ll be writing columns every weekday, breaking down the biggest questions we have about every player the Lakers added this offseason. Today, we look at Jarred Vanderbilt.
Jarred Vanderbilt’s 2024-25 season was one to forget. It started with Lakers President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka announcing that Vanderbilt had procedures done on each foot.
Pelinka mentioned that he was optimistic that Vanderbilt would be ready
for Opening Night, but he didn’t make his season debut until Jan. 25 against the Warriors. That’s a lot of time lost and a poor assessment on when a player will return, something that’s been far too common with the Lakers over the years.
When he did play, Vando had a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde feel to his game.
In his best games, he was a perfect rotational piece. Vanderbilt was able to guard multiple positions, irritate the best perimeter players in the NBA defensively, make the extra pass to get his teammates open looks offensively and finish from the dunker’s spot while even hitting the occasional 3-pointer.
When Vando transformed into Mr. Hyde, however, it was ugly. He still had a respectable defensive floor, but his offense was in the basement. He wouldn’t take enough jumpers to justify playing him and the ones he did take didn’t go in.
With head coach JJ Redick employing a very switch-heavy defense, it neutralizes Vanderbilt somewhat. He is known as a strong defender, but if he’s not allowed to defend the Shai Gilgeous-Alexanders and Ja Morants the entire game, then his impact is neutralized.
Overall, the defensive changes Redick made, along with Vando’s offensive numbers dropping off meant his playing time continued to dip.
When the games mattered most, Vando was watching like the rest of us. He played just eight minutes in L.A.’s only postseason win in Game 2 and, in Game 4, he played just seven minutes.
So, can he find a middle ground with Redick and enough consistency in his game to get on the floor more this season?
What is his best-case scenario?
If things break right for Vando, he’s an invaluable player on this Lakers team.
He’s able to be the Lakers’ defensive Swiss Army Knife, and he’ll be the x-factor whose impact isn’t found in raw stats, but it’s clear the team is better when he’s on the floor, ala Dorian Finney-Smith last year.
On the offensive side of the ball, Vando is a bit more aggressive. He’s taking those corner three and deep shots from the slot and converting on them enough that teams can no longer pack the paint whenever he touches the ball.
When he’s placed in the dunker spot or gets into the paint, he’s able to finish at the rim well enough to be able to vary his uses offensively, too.
With Vando being one of the best defenders on the Lakers, shooting well enough to keep defenses spread out and honest, he can play 25 minutes a night and might even start or close games out because he’s one of the players Redick trusts to win games.
What is his worst-case scenario?
If things break bad for Vando, we’ll see a player who’s half of what you need. Sure, he’s a solid defender, but he can’t shoot, so he can’t play.
When he does play, you see glimpses of what you need, but he can only come in and eat up some time on the back half of the rotation. In games where you are trailing, sure he can help force turnovers, which could spark a comeback, but he’s not a reliable enough shooter to make him a consistent option when your team needs a boost.
In Redick’s lineups, Vando is the odd man out. He doesn’t pair well with either Deandre Ayton or Jaxson Hayes, which makes it hard to find time for him on the court.
Playing Vando becomes more of a rarity than a regularity. If he has it going on a particular night, then sure, but more often than not, he’s limited to just a couple of shifts per game.
Health-wise, Vando keeps having issues. He has only played in 60 or more games three times in his seven-year career and the last time was the 2022-23 season. This upcoming season, he remains a fixture on the injury report and talk regarding his year is more about when he’s coming back than what he brings to the table when he’s here.
What is his most likely role on the team?
While I think a career year is on the table, even returning to his 2023 form as a Laker would be huge. With Vando, health and offensive dependability are key. The Lakers have posted him hard at work on their social feeds this summer, so you know he’s putting in the work.
So long as he takes those shots and attacks the rim, he’s all but guaranteed to at least play 16 minutes or so during the regular season and will be part of the rotation.
If he does more than that, that’s where the best-case scenario becomes unlocked, but at a minimum, I expect Vando to be a great defender who you can trust not to make silly mistakes and be a solid backup forward.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
