For the Lakers, Jarred Vanderbilt is now playing like the biggest steal of the NBA trade deadline

The Lakers accomplished their best comeback in more than twenty years on Sunday, surprising the Mavericks on route to a victory. Jarred Vanderbilt had a significant impact. NBA clubs had a 0-138 record when behind by at least 27 points prior to the game on Sunday. Yet, the Lakers were the first team to come back from such a large hole, and Vanderbilt was essential to their success. When he was on the court, the vibe was simply different. The forward ended with 17 rebounds, 4 steals, and 15 points (6-8 FG, 1-1 3P). His other contributions were five deflections, the recovery of one offensive loose ball and one defensive loose ball. During the trade deadline, Los Angeles was very active and made several significant changes. At the time, Rui Hachimura, Mo Bamba, D'Angelo Russell, and Malik Beasley may have drawn the most interest. Yet Vanderbilt appears to be the most significant member of the group. He is a fierce rebounder who keeps his team actively involved in every possession. When Vanderbilt is playing, Los Angeles' offensive rebound percentage rises. According to PBPStats, the Lakers averaged 18.8 points per 100 possessions on opportunities for second chances during the minutes played with Vanderbilt, compared to just 12.7 during those played without him. When he is on the field, the Lakers, who were already a very quick team, play even quicker. While Vanderbilt was involved, the average offensive possession lasted 13.6 seconds, while when they weren't, it took 14.1 seconds.The 23-year-old former Kentucky star has also demonstrated this season that, for a big player, he is a reasonably proficient distributor and playmaker.

He is a good addition to a roster that already has LeBron James and Anthony Davis, two players who see extremely high usage rates, because to his selfless instincts and low-volume offensive efficiency. But, Vanderbilt's ability to alter the game on the defensive end of the floor will have the largest impact on this club. Teams perform significantly worse when he is there because he has established himself as a disruptive player. According to Cleaning the Glass, Vanderbilt is a defensive back with positional versatility, and each of the previous three seasons, his theft % has been in the 90th percentile or above among players at his position. When the Lakers don't have Vanderbilt on the court, opponents are hitting the rim at a 67.3 percent clip. Yet, according to Cleaning The Glass, they are just 58.3 percent while he is on the court, placing him in the 98th percentile. He is contributing defensively to other 2-pointers as well. When Vanderbilt is not on the court, opponents are hitting 43.5 percent from 3-point range against the Lakers, compared to only 34.2 percent when he is, which is in the 99th percentile. His defensive box plus-minus now belongs to the top 20 among qualifying contenders for the 2022–23 season. Vanderbilt is even more desirable because he has a fair deal for the upcoming season. Acquiring Vanderbilt might be a key factor in the Lakers' ability to compete in the postseason.