Jarred Vanderbilt's best trait is his defensive versatility. He can switch onto multiple positions and irritate ball-handlers of all shapes and sizes. So, despite Vanderbilt being a power forward, JJ Redick sounds like he wants to use the 26 year-old forward in a role typically reserved for guards, which is that of a full-court ball hawk.
Lakers reporter Jovan Buha talked about Redick's plan for Vanderbilt and new Lakers guard Marcus Smart; in short, he wants them to be pests:
"He wants to use Marcus Smart and Jarred Vanderbilt in particular, as point of attack defenders who can ball hawk opposing ball handlers 96 feet, 48 feet, and make their lives difficult...With Marcus on the roster and with Vando healthy... "
It's unique, but I'm intrigued. Vanderbilt's 7-foot-1 wingspan allows him to be disruptive, and this approach could be especially successful against any team that doesn't employ a typical point guard to take the ball up the court. If they do, then toss Smart on them 94 feet from the basket. If a bigger player is taking the ball up, let Vando wreck some havoc.
Is it fair to say we've never seen Jarred Vanderbilt at his full strength with the Lakers? He's played 91 games in 2.5 seasons and it feels like he's perpetually in getting back into form after an injury purgatory. That doesn't seem to be the case this summer, and this shift in role could finally give us a comprehensive look at his fit on this team.
Vanderbilt's 3-point shooting is getting attention this offseason
I am very confident in Vanderbilt's ability to pick up the ball 90-plus feet from the basket. I'm less confident in his ability to knock down 3-pointers consistently, but that's not stopping the propaganda mill, apparently. Multiple videos of Vanderbilt's shooting form at training camp have been circulating recently.
A look at Jarred Vanderbilt’s improved shooting mechanics as he gets shots up with Jake LaRavia pic.twitter.com/OqhG4GbBS9
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) October 1, 2025
Vanderbilt's new shooting form does look better, I won't argue with that, but career non-shooters seldom turn into knockdown snipers in an offseason, no matter what the powers that be try to tell you.
If he can get up to 35 percent from deep, that would be awesome. But you probably shouldn't hold your breath.
The full-court pressure, with Vanderbilt acting as the primary ball-stopper and POA defender, though? That I can get behind. Redick wanting to try new and novel looks on defense is a good sign for a team that faced some questions about defensive upside after trading Anthony Davis last year.
And all those questions won't be immediately answered in 2025. Redick needs to strike a balance in his rotations and lineups, because there are still plenty of combinations that would be pretty deficient on the defensive end. But is it worth some bad defensive lineups to see Marcus Smart and Jarred Vanderbilt on the floor at the same time hounding whomever is trying to take the ball up court? Honestly... Maybe.