The Los Angeles Lakers need to rethink their strategy following a poor start to the preseason.
Sure, NBA preseason games do not count toward the regular season record, but it’s an excellent opportunity to alter coaching strategies.
So far, head coach JJ Redick’s lineup choices haven’t worked out well as the Los Angeles Lakers are off to a 0-2 start in the preseason.
Speaking of which, former NBA star Gilbert Arenas has a suggestion that involves power forward Jarred Vanderbilt.
Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty ImagesGilbert Arenas urges LA Lakers to make Jarred Vanderbilt a power forward
This offseason, Vanderbilt has earned praise for improving his three-point shooting. On top of that, Vanderbilt has also worked on his fitness.
However, to truly succeed with the Lakers, Arenas believes that Vanderbilt should give up on playing as a power forward. Instead, he should swap roles with Rui Hachimura.
“No, Vando can’t play the four man. Put him at the three, put Rui at the four. Like, stop,” Arenas pointed out on his show.
He further added: “The problem with Van at the four is he’s in the dunker spot. And the problem with him being in a dunker spot is he don’t have boosties.”
While Hachimura’s vertical jump isn’t officially recorded, he has emerged as an above-average leaper throughout his NBA career.
On the other hand, Vanderbilt shines the most as a defender rather than a high-flying dunker.
Gilbert Arenas compares Jarred Vanderbilt to PJ Tucker
Arenas further bolstered his point by comparing Vando to former New York Knicks star PJ Tucker.
Agent Zero believes that just like Tucker, Vanderbilt is simply too small to be an elite power forward in the NBA as the Lakers star is 6’8″.
“Everybody else down there is about 6’11, so they’re on that, and he can’t just jump up and dunk that,” he continued.
“I don’t like him at the at the dunker spot. It’s like with PJ Tucker at the dunker spot, you guys are not big enough or tall enough to just go and dunk that,” Arenas concluded.
Even Hachimura is listed at 6’8″, but his vertical leaping ability makes him a better dunker for the Lakers, per Arenas. Will coach Redick listen to Arenas? Fans will find out soon.