Vanderbilt immediately secured a starting role after being acquired from Utah at the 2023 trade deadline, seamlessly integrating into the Lakers’ lineup and becoming a key contributor during their deep playoff run to the Western Conference Finals.
His defensive versatility and energy were crucial to the team’s success, especially in high-pressure matchups. Despite his promising impact, injuries plagued Vanderbilt last season, restricting him to only 29 games.
This made his absence felt even more, as his on-court presence was instrumental to the Lakers’ overall defensive schemes.
As he works toward a full recovery, his return becomes even more vital for Coach J.J. Redick, who is focusing on implementing new defensive strategies for the upcoming season.
Vanderbilt’s ability to guard multiple positions and disrupt opposing offenses fits perfectly into the adjustments Redick is looking to make.
His return is expected to add a significant boost to the team’s defensive prowess, allowing the coach to experiment with different schemes, especially as the Lakers aim to improve their overall defensive cohesion.
“We’ve had some fun with one of our zones,” Redick said. “We haven’t practiced it, but we’ve used it in a game a couple times. We have another version of a zone that features [Vanderbilt].
“I’m looking forward to experimenting with that. Probably won’t get to experiment with it in the preseason.”
Lakers Notes: Vanderbilt, Reaves, Olivari, Trade Market https://t.co/LHsDcZIur0 pic.twitter.com/SAhScKXRUt
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) October 13, 2024
