Jarred Vanderbilt Discussion: The Vandalorian

This fools gold IMO based on conclusions from a small sample size and confounded by not adjusting for opponent strength/luck. Opposing coaches would adjust to this pretty easily and effectively. You have no lob threat with this combination on offense and you have no rim protection from either guy on defense Rui lack of rebounding will impact the defensive impact of this duo as well. Vando overall rebounding while good for forward does not have much VAR especially with Hayes properly slutted into the backup role

The dream of Vando will never die sigh. BTW Great post though I disagree with the conclusion

 

Yes, these are small sample sizes since we are less than one-fifth of the way through a season. However, our eyetest opinions for this season are also based on this small sample, and considering the data is better than eyetest alone. I'll look back at last season when I get a chance, but my memory tracks similarly to the current findings.

Nobody is saying that Vando is the answer to everything, or even if he'll be playable in the playoffs or not. The jury will be out on that until then. But in the regular season, we need productive PF/C minutes, as the past 14 games have shown. LeBron is back now, but there will be injuries to various players in the future, and Vando will be needed.

The bar is not, is Vando starter level, or even 20+ min/gm level next to anybody on the floor without considerations as to who. The bar is simply, is Vando a positive for 10+ min, in certain lineups during the regular season? And the answer clearly seems to be yes so far. (And has been in past years as well, by memory, and will try to confirm later.)

There's not much of an alternative anyway. Nobody's saying Vando is untouchable, don't trade him. He doesn't have much trade value at his current contract. If you could trade him for better, then by all means, let's do so. But barring a better alternative, his production next to Rui or even Ayton for 10-15 min/gm has been quite good and should be going forward as well, at least during the regular season.