Lakers power forward Jarred Vanderbilt holds the unusual distinction of being traded away from two different teams by the same executive. When Tim Connelly ran the Nuggets, he sent Vanderbilt to Minnesota as part of a four-team trade at the 2020 deadline. He did the same thing last summer as the Timberwolves’ president of basketball operations, shipping Vanderbilt to Utah in the Rudy Gobert deal.
“(Timberwolves) got a new president/GM. Same one that came from (the Nuggets),” Vanderbilt said on the Tidal League “Run Your Race” podcast (video link from ClutchPoints). “… He traded me to Minnesota, then he got to Minnesota, traded me again to (the Jazz). I’m like ‘damn.’”
Things worked out fine for Vanderbilt, who played an important role in the Lakers’ run to the Western Conference Finals and was recently rewarded with a four-year, $48MM extension. On the same podcast, Vanderbilt addressed rumors that he has grown over the summer (hat tip to Fan Nation).
“They saying I’m 6’11” now. … I don’t know,” Vanderbilt said. “That’s what the streets saying, I’m just the messenger.”
There’s more from the Pacific Division:
- Minority investors who own a little more than 10% of the Warriors are looking to sell their shares in the team, according to Giles Turner and Randall Williams of Bloomberg. They are reportedly asking for $700MM, which would put the team’s valuation at an NBA record $7 billion. The Warriors refused to confirm the rumor, issuing a statement that reads, “Per our organization policy, we do not comment on the potential sale or non-sale of ownership among our investment group.”
- Dwight Howard posted a cryptic tweet on Saturday after the Warriors reportedly decided not to sign him or any other big man before the start of training camp. The 37-year-old center had two days of interviews with the team and worked out with some of its veteran players this week. “Only as a WARRIOR can one withstand the path of knowledge,” Howard wrote. “A WARRIOR cannot complain or regret anything. His life is an endless challenge. And challenges cannot possibly be good or bad. Challenges are simply challenges.”
- Marcus Morris‘ situation with the Clippers appears unsettled, but he won’t consider staying away from the team the way that Jae Crowder did with the Suns, sources tell Law Murray of The Athletic. Morris started all 65 games he appeared in last season, but Murray called him “unplayable” after Paul George was lost with a knee injury. Murray notes that Morris was brought in to be the third scoring option for a team without a ball-dominant point guard, but there’s no longer a need for that since the acquisition of Russell Westbrook.
I highly doubt Vando grew to 6’11” but if he did… maybe the Lakers will have found their Jokic stopper. If there is such a thing.
They just need to play defense like it’s a contract year
I’m so glad that the Warriors stayed away from that old washed up prima-donna..
Well looks like it wasn’t his inability to play the position or performing on the court that prevented Howard from getting a spot. Seems to me like he didn’t interview well?
Who in the NBA goes through two days of interviews? I think they went the extra mile and when things weren’t working out in day one, they brought in other interviewers to give it a shot just in case the first group misread Dwight’s peculiar view on life.
I think they gave this a real good look, but didn’t want to risk even the slightest potential negative locker room issue at all, especially after paying the huge price it did to rid themselves of the Jordan Poole cloud.
I don’t think it helps chances for another spot on a NBA team when you disparage a quality organization that’s well respected in the league such as the Golden State warriors.
The more diplomatic version of Dwight would have thanked them for the great opportunity and noted how much he learned and improved his understanding of defensive schemes, etc etc.
This really could close the door and mysteriously initiate a lot of airline advertisements on his Facebook feed for flights to Taiwan.
Disparage what. He explained what a Warrior is to him.
“Only as a warrior can one withstand The Path of Knowledge.” Isn’t he cryptically saying that unless you’re on the inside and part of the Golden State Warriors then you’re on the outside and without knowledge? Like it’s a special club or something?
“A warrior cannot complain or regret anything.” Again I think the Dwight is saying that he probably disclosed a lot of different things and the Warriors counted those things against him as negatives rather than perhaps a path to maturity?
I think he’s saying/said that he’s perfect for their needs and he’s grown as a player and as a man (which could be true) but he’s saying the Warriors rejected him and they are wrong and out of line for doing so.
Just my thoughts. I could be wrong.
Overthinking it lol. He’s a Warrior in his mind. He’s not talking about them. Just fact they rejected a Warrior in his mind.
Personally I think they can use him.
Comes from the guy Kobe said was soft
Howard is a head case who can’t accept the reality his career has been over for several years now. Thankfully the warriors finally got through.
He’s a better rebounder that 75% of NBA.
He’s got plenty left. Especially as a 10-12 man.
except 10-12 guys aren’t rotation guys
No one grows at 24 yrs old.
And if the streets know better than you about you. Then why are you talking ……
I think he’s still got potential to be a nice 2way player. Yeah ….. but potential time line is running out.
If you intend for Marcus Morris to be your 3rd scoring option…You never had a chance. Especially at this stage of his career.
If one thinks Westbrook is a scoring option then…
Something has always been amiss with Howard. When he was in his prime, or close, it was something that teams seemed to ignore (if they even knew about it) until they got him. After he left the LAL the first time, each of his other teams seemed to do a relatively quick 180 on him, either deciding to get rid of him or at least not bring him back. Nothing in his numbers came close to justifying those levels of almost instant buyer regret.
Anyway, when an NBA player doesn’t do well in an interview, it’s not because he picked his nose or didn’t look the interviewer in the eyes. It’s not about skill set fit either (that was decided in advance). Cultural fit? Sure, but that isn’t really definitively determined during an interview, though I guess the lack of it can be, and apparently Howard accomplished it.
Yes and as far as cultural fit perhaps that was looked at in the LA Workout with Green and Chris Paul?
Thursday in Los Angeles could have been part of the interview.., day 3 lol, and he didn’t realize it and was a clown. Maybe yucking it up with the guys instead of realizing the little general is desperate for a ring and doesn’t do clowns at this point, if ever.
I can see Howard’s perspective to an extent. He’s known these guys individually for a while, and for most that time his status as a player in the league was at least equal to and likely greater than theirs. Now they’re evaluating him as to whether he’s worthy of joining them even in a back of the roster (minimum salary) role.
On the other hand, if Howard could apply a little intelligence and humility to the situation, it would likely have gone a long way. Unfortunately, Howard might be lacking in the first, and is certainly devoid of the second.
As an NBA center. Howard should still be backing someone up. I don’t get why a guy who got lucky to win a ring. Isn’t doing his very best. To get a chance at another. Warriors absolutely need bigs. An experienced rim protector rebounder. Is an excellent fit for them.
I’ll tell you this. You would think a guy is mature at 37 as opposed to 24 and in most cases it’s probably true.
I will tell you from personal experience that I was a clown at 24, and at 37 !! I probably didn’t wake up to standard male maturity as far as integrity, work ethic, reliability, and all of that until I was 45 or 50. That’s the truth. Perhaps that is Dwight’s similar path to this point at 37? He’s just not there yet.
Maturity of playing a game. Imo Harden has serious maturity issues. As does Ky. Howard may be aloof. Don’t know him. But I see he plays. That’s what I judge. He’s an idiot if he’s not nailing down interviews at this point in his life. Unless it’s physical.
If Vando grew to 6’11 he’s be the perfect fit alongside AD. Both solid defensively and can guard inside and out on multiple positions and players. However Vando for a PF lacks a good offensive game and can shoot the 3 ball at all. Whereas AD can handle the rock, shoot it from outside and ofcourse get them from inside the arc however he wants.
The two of them together would fit perfectly.
Defensively they do it all and offensively they switch positions and AD plays more outside going in and Vando more cutting to the rim, put back rebounds, lobs and stuff like that.
Especially in combination with Christian Wood, who’s a small C that just has offensive game and lacks on defence. Between the 3 of them you have all bases covered really …
LBJ obviously runs the show, AD is the go to guy, Reaves I think will overtake Dlo and be the clear 3rd option if he isn’t already. Ultimately I think Dlo turns into the bench impact scorer and leader for the second unit and that creates a hole in the starting side. They mainly just need a good outside shooter that holds his own defensively.
For example, a Derrick White would be great for them. 6’4 can shoot the 3 can do a little playmaking or whatever on the ball but happy to also play off ball
Not a fan of the Gabe Vincent signing but guessing he will be asked to do that although he’s not a good shooter.
I’d try make a Rui Hachimura and Gabe Vincent for Spencer Dinwiddie and either Royce ONeale or Dorian Finney-Smith trade .
Imagine
Dinwiddie Reaves LBJ Vando AD
DLo Christie Prince Finney-Smith Wood
JHS Reddish Hayes
Dinwiddie has good height, decent shooting efficiency, holds his own on defence, offer some playmaking ability but not demanding of the ball, he’s smart and he’d fit in well. Then off the bench DFS is a solid 3 and D forward just like Prince and that would work well with Dlo and Wood just going after it. They be reliable kick out options and defensively help cover them yet could be injected in with the likes of LBJ and AD in some line ups.