"Energy shifters": JJ Redick weighs in on Jarred Vanderbilt's value while providing health update on injured forward
LA Lakers head coach has shared his two cents on what made Jarred Vanderbilt a vital cog in the Purple and Gold outfit. While at it, he also provided a quick update on the forward's health as the Lakers continue to hunt for upgrades in free agency.
Vanderbilt played just 29 games this past season as left heel bursitis sidelined him for a major part of the campaign. The defensive genius' absence was felt in the playoffs after LA suffered a first-round exit at the hands of the Denver Nuggets.
Speaking to Lakers reporter Mike Trudell, Redick called Vanderbilt's caliber of players "Energy shifters". The 40-year-old added that he had thought about how to utilize the forward this season alongside bonafide athletic big Rui Hachimura.
"I think the unique thing about Jarred, and a number of really good teams that made deep playoff runs have guys like him, that are energy, defense, ball hawks. He can sort of … I call them energy shifters. He can change the energy of an entire game, and he doesn’t have to do it with scoring, which makes him unique. I can’t wait to coach him. He has some rehab to do for the rest of the summer, but when he’s healthy, he’s going to be a big part of what we do."
Redick's update on Jarred Vanderbilt going through his recovery and nearing full fitness would be very welcome among the Lakers fanbase. The forward was one of the more locked-in defenders, who made up for his lack of contribution on offense with a string Draciel-like defense. The Lakers were one of the more lethal teams defensively after acquiring Vanderbilt in 2023 as part of the Russell Westbrook trade.
Jarred Vanderbilt reportedly one of the LA Lakers players on the trade block
As per latest reports, the LA Lakers had considered trading Jarred Vanderbilt along with key names in D'Angelo Russell, Rui Hachiumura, and Gabe Vincent.
According to Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer, LA has monitored trade situations for the four players. After missing out on landing big names in Klay Thompson and DeMar DeRozan, the front office is yet to make moves to improve the current roster.
Vanderbilt and Vincent aren't players who would necessarily command attention in the trade market, given their last season numbers (5.2 points and 3.1 points per game respectively). However, they have proved to be solid bench options for teams looking to bolster their second unit.
JJ Redick's latest comments suggest the Lakers may have changed their plans with Jarred Vanderbilt and Hachimura. Only time will tell how the new HC uses a hopefully healthy Vanderbilt next season.