Utah Jazz: Jarred Vanderbilt’s distinct game is turning heads
Jarred Vanderbilt of the Utah Jazz is exactly the kind of teammate NBA players love. He’s a ferocious rebounder, fearless defender, insanely athletic, and a surprisingly decent playmaker.
https://twitter.com/ClutchPointsApp/status/1602871603565453314?s=20&t=TYwuMvZF7zq3slG428qMOg
He’s the kind of player that dives for a loose ball, causes havoc on defense, crashes the offensive boards, and hustles in ways that don’t show up on the stat sheet. He brings heart to the Jazz, similar to players like Bobby Portis, PJ Tucker, and maybe one day Draymond Green. He’s also a raw talent who often plays out of control, overdoes it with fouls, and hasn’t cemented his jump shot yet. Still, he’s only 23. If this is his floor, his ceiling could be scary.
On the season, Vanderbilt is averaging a hair above 8 points, 8 boards, and 3 dimes a game, but on December 13th, Vanderbilt flashed his potential, dropping 18 points, 14 boards, 6 dimes, a steal, and a block. However, his offensive limitations flared thereafter as Vanderbilt failed to hit a single shot in the following two games.
Jarred Vanderbilt’s unique game makes him very valuable.
Regardless, Vanderbilt has Jerome Williams-Esque qualities, a former Knicks fan favorite nicknamed the Junkyard Dog for his vicious play style. Vanderbilt, a pitbull in his own right, always finds ways to impact games with his hustle. Fans and fantasy managers aren’t the only ones who have noticed Vanderbilt’s potential; superstar Damian Lillard has too.
When asked in a recent interview who he’d be most interested in teaming with, Dame said Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Jarred Vanderbilt. “Jarred Vanderbilt does everything. “He guards every position, he rebounds, he’s a playmaker, he’s tough, competitive, and has a good feel for what’s going on out there.”
On December 4th, after the Blazers defeated the Jazz, Lillard responded to a tweet about bringing Vanderbilt to the Blazers before quickly deleting it. Suffice to say, Vanderbilt has made an impression on the future Hall of Famer, and he’s not the only one.
Although Dame’s name-dropping was merely conversational Vanderbilt is certainly the most available player among the three. Although the Jazz got off to a scorching start this season they’ve slipped to 9th place in the Western Conference and you can’t help but wonder if their initial plan to tank will eventually come to fruition.
Walker Kessler has recently emerged as a dynamic, up-and-coming center with his ability to block shots and anchor the defense. Unfortunately, Vanderbilt and Walker playing together prove difficult as neither of them can stretch the floor. Could this make Vanderbilt expendable? Granted, Vanderbilt’s three-point percentage has drastically improved this season and that trend could continue.
The Jazz have already made it clear they aren’t trading Jordan Clarkson or Lauri Markannen. They have plenty of veteran talent they could flip like Olynyk, Mike Conley, or sharpshooter Malik Beasley. However, Vanderbilt’s versatility has caught the attention of the Suns and previously the Heat. Not to mention, he’s currently on an inexpensive contract considering his upside.
Do the Minnesota Timberwolves already have buyer’s remorse?. dark. Next
Ultimately, Vanderbilt’s versatility, heart, and defensive prowess make him a dynamic player with a massive ceiling. It’ll be interesting to see if the Jazz continues to invest in development or if Vanderbilt makes his way to a contender this season.