The Milwaukee Bucks will be hunting for defensive-minded players through free agency, trades and the NBA Draft this off-season.
So far, when it comes to potential key targets, a lot of the same names are regurgitated. Alex Caruso, Dejounte Murray, Andrew Wiggins and even current Bucks guard Patrick Beverley are all players being floated as quality targets by fans and analysts. One name that hasn't popped up in these discussions is Jarred Vanderbilt of the Los Angeles Lakers, but perhaps a new rumor could change that.
On the latest episode of "Buha's Block," The Athletic's Jovan Buha says that he gets the feeling every player outside of Austin Reaves in the Los Angeles Lakers' supporting cast is movable to an extent. With that in mind, the Bucks should do homework on Vanderbilt to see what it might take to get him.
Bucks should poke around latest trade rumor to come out of Los Angeles
Jarred Vanderbilt is among the most versatile defenders the game has to offer today. At 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan and 214 pound frame, the 25-year-old forward possesses the height and length to guard multiple positions and help a team thrive when they decide to switch defensively. Sound like someone who could help the Milwaukee Bucks? Absolutely.
Since the departure of P.J. Tucker, the Bucks have longed for a wing defender who is capable of taking on the difficult assignments nightly. They've tried with players like Semi Ojeleye, Jae Crowder and Wesley Matthews, the final name being by far the most successful, but none of them could hold a candle to what Vanderbilt would bring to the table in Milwaukee.
Speaking of P.J. Tucker's time in Milwaukee, the Bucks need to find a forward who could play their small-ball four role when Giannis Antetokounmpo slides to center. Vanderbilt would be an excellent option to consider due to his defensive excellence and ability to guard almost everyone on the court.
While the defense is undoubtedly captivating, the two significant knocks on Vanderbilt are his health and perimeter shooting.
The forward was bombarded with foot injuries this past season, which limited him to just 29 contests. It's unclear if these injuries will linger, but given that there were multiple foot injuries, such as bursitis in the heel and a mid-foot sprain, it's possible that they linger. Injuries have been a major problem in Milwaukee lately, and they may not need another oft-injured player.
As for the shooting, Vanderbilt has shot just 29 percent from distance in his career on 0.5 attempts per game. Not only has he not shot it well, but outside shooting has never even been a part of his arsenal, which could cause fit problems, especially if the team would plan on playing him next to Giannis Antetokounmpo often.
While there are concerns, the positives outweigh the negatives here. At 25, the forward is still young and could inject some needed youth into this roster while providing nice defense. With a $10.7 million salary for next season, Vanderbilt also wouldn't be a high-salary target, making it easier to put him in the realm of possibility for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Ultimately, the Bucks don't have to make a decision now, but they should be poking around every player in the league who puts in effort on defense, and Vanderbilt fits the billing.
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