The best version of who Jarred Vanderbilt can be is great at a lot of things: perimeter defense, hustle, off-ball cutting, etc. That list does not include handling the basketball. The Los Angeles Lakers would be wise to minimize the necessity for those types of instances occurring.
That thought should be obvious to everyone. Jovan Buha even made it a focal point of his takeaways from the Lakers' preseason matchup against the Golden State Warriors. The mixed bag of what that experience brings is just not worth seeing too often on the court.
Buha said, "The playmaking really stood out with the four assists. ... Vando has that point forward ability. That does come with some limitations. He did have three turnovers and you want to be careful. There could be some good and the bad when he has the ball, right?"
The Lakers reporter went on to point out the glaring flaw with allowing Vanderbilt time on the ball. The issue described there was him being just as likely to dribble the ball off his foot, or into a crowd to get the ball stolen, as he would be to make a play with it. The assist-to-turnover ratio from the Warriors matchup really says it all.
Jarred Vanderbilt’s value diminishes quickly when asked to handle the ball
Vanderbilt's career has not suggested to this point that playmaking is something that should be regularly asked of the 26-year-old. The Lakers forward has averaged 1.4 assists per game versus 1.0 turnover per game over his seven years in the NBA. Los Angeles simply has way too many better options to turn to for on-ball duties.
Luka Doncic should be expected to lead the team in usage percentage and on-ball metrics throughout the entirety of the 2025-26 season. The Lakers superstar point guard is at his best when dictating the entire flow of the offense, and that is exactly what will be asked of him.
LeBron James is undoubtedly making the shift to add more off-ball tactics back to his repertoire to aid the fit next to his superstar teammate. Even so, James will be asked to play on the ball a ton as well this season.
The Lakers' three-star attack will also heavily feature Austin Reaves, who is one of the more underrated on-ball shot creators and playmakers in the NBA. Past those three, Gabe Vincent and Marcus Smart should also be expected to handle the ball a fair share.
The point is, there is no need for Vanderbilt to support a Lakers group already flooded with on-ball options by adding his own name into the mix. Continuing to show off his newly-rediscovered athleticism by diving to the rim and working on his 3-point stroke is what Los Angeles needs to see offensively from him.