Jarred Vanderbilt‘s new four-year extension with the Lakers has a relatively straightforward structure, as Keith Smith of Spotrac notes (Twitter link). The 6’9″ forward will receive standard 8% pay bumps across each season in the deal.
Vanderbilt will earn $10.7MM in 2024/25, $11.6MM in 2025/26, $12.4MM in 2026/27, and $13.3MM in 2027/28. The final season of the deal in 2027/28 is a player option.
Across 26 regular season contests with L.A., the Kentucky product averaged 7.2 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.6 APG and 1.2 SPG while providing his signature versatile, high-motor defense.
Vanderbilt’s impact was dulled during the postseason, where he saw his minutes slashed from 24.0 MPG to 16.5. His output suffered as well. He averaged 4.6 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 0.8 APG, 0.7 SPG, and 0.9 BPG in 15 games.
There’s more out of the Pacific Division:
- During a new conversation on the podcast It Is What It Is from Cam’ron, Ma$e & Treasure “Stat Baby” Wilson (YouTube video link), Trail Blazers All-Star point guard Damian Lillard explained why he isn’t interested in playing for his hometown Warriors. “As far as like Golden State, I respect what they’ve been doing over the last eight, nine years or whatever and I’m from there obviously,” Lillard said (hat tip to HoopsHype for the transcript). “But I can’t be a part of that. They’ve won four championships… Like what would I look like going to try to do that and say, ‘Oh I’m joining my home team.’ Like no. It’s somebody that played my position that’s behind LeBron the best player of this era. It don’t even make sense. I never do nothing like that. I’d lose every year before I’d go.”
- New Suns play-by-play commentator John Bloom spoke at length about his latest gig with Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. Bloom is replacing legendary broadcaster Al McCoy, who previously held the gig for 51 seasons. “My style is an energetic combo of old school nuts-and-bolts hoops description with a unique punch of new school flavor featuring references to hip hop and pop culture,” Bloom said. He is bullish on a star-studded Phoenix team’s 2023/24 season. “As for this Suns roster, are you kidding me?” Bloom said. “Did somebody create this one on 2K and convert it to real life, because it looks like it on paper. I can’t wait to see this group come together and am so pumped to get this show started.”
- In case you missed it, the Clippers reportedly ceased James Harden trade talks with the Sixers.
Congrats dame dolla dolla loser. You gon lose every season!! At least you the highest paid.
Wonder how many people will talk about Dame in a decade or two.
Depends on his rap career…
Plenty. HOF career. HOFers get discussed a lot decade after decade.
How is dame a HOFer????? Thats hilarious!!
Oh thats right i forgot how many mvps, finals mvps, and championships he has! And how many scoring titles, all defensive team, and most affordable contract! Lol
How do you not consider Dame a HOF?? That’s hilarious!!!
What has he done to earn it? Be loyal? Thats over…
In 5 years nobody will remember him. This is how new age kids are. In 20 years lebron will be no better than the person they are watching at the time. Nobody cares about what happened before them. Gus Williams, Larry Bird, magic Johnson, Stromile swift, Sam Jones.. who are they. I think I see them on a TV show, oh yes I know everything about them. They are bums. (How people think now) Lillard will fallow Stocktons place in history. Kids don’t care about what happened before them. What do they say” that’s before I was born so drrrr” As the world turns.
Lliard will be in the HOF if he plays another 5 years and stays healthy. You are right he will be like Stockton where people will say good ball player but if he doesn’t win a championship or MVP just another player.
Yall would put dame lillard in the hof over chauncey billups? HA hof isnt even impressive anymore just throw anyone who can score a few points in there. Smh
Magic and Bird will always be remembered. They saved the NBA