Training camp for the 2023-24 NBA season is slowly but surely approaching, and while there is plenty of time before it begins, it’s time for players to start ramping up their training and preparation.
That’s especially true for the Los Angeles Lakers, who are hoping to win their 18th world championship next summer. They magically remade what was a broken roster in January and February, and now they’re aiming for the sky rather than just trying to tread water.
Jarred Vanderbilt was one of the key midseason acquisitions that turned L.A.’s season around. His defensive versatility help make the team a title contender, but he has plenty of room for improvement and should pursue these three goals.
Become a better 3-point shooter
The big weakness in Vanderbilt’s game is his outside shooting. He made just 30.3 percent of his 3-point attempts in 26 regular season games with the Lakers, and he fell to 24.1 percent in 15 playoff games.
Teams would often leave him wide open in the corners, practically daring him to let the ball fly from there. It led to his playing time being slashed as the playoffs progressed since he was basically an offensive liability.
Vanderbilt doesn’t have to become a 3-point sniper, but getting to at least 35 percent accuracy would mean opposing teams wouldn’t be able to always get away with leaving him open.
Catch the ball and finish in the paint better
When Vanderbilt looked to move off the 3-point line and try to cut to the basket, he would sometimes drop passes. When he did successfully catch the ball in the paint, he had trouble converting and was sometimes hesitant to shoot the ball.
The forward made just 64.9 percent of his shot attempts from three feet and in during the regular season with the Lakers. He improved to 73.7 percent in the playoffs, but it remains an overall concern for him.
Be more consistent
Vanderbilt certainly had games where his impact was palpable. However, there were also games where he didn’t seem to make much of an impact in any area, be it defense, rebounding or something else.
Being more consistent when it comes to his energy and intensity would improve his value to the team. It would also improve the chances of the Lakers offering him a contract extension in the near future (his current contract expires at the end of the 2023-24 season).
