Offseason MVP! Lakers forward Vanderbilt becomes the focus

This offseason, Lakers forward Vanderbilt became the focus of hot discussion among fans.

He frequently posted photos of hard training in the gym on social media. Recently, a jump shot training video made him feel more popular and was teased by many netizens as "offseason MVP". This strong man who is based on defense is responding to the outside world's doubts about his offensive shortcomings with his actions.

Van Debiao himself was full of confidence: "I have been recuperating in the past few years, and now I can finally train with all my strength, and my physical condition is better than ever!"

However, the Lakers' expectations for him are far more than that. When the Lakers exchanged Westbrook for Van Debiao in 2023, they were interested in his top defensive ability. In the 2022-23 season, the Lakers ranked second in the league in defensive efficiency when he was on the court.

But on the offensive end, his shortcomings were too obvious: last season's playoffs, he averaged only 1.4 points per game, and his three-point shooting percentage was a dismal 0%. The annual salary is 12 million yuan, but it can only be played for about 10 minutes. This cost-effectiveness gives the Lakers management a headache. What's even more heartbreaking is that he has only played 65 games due to injury in the past two seasons, and his attendance rate is lower than that of "Glass Man" Zion.

Van Debiao is not without shooting potential. In the 2022-23 season, his three-point shooting percentage was 33.3%, and he averaged 0.4 per game, proving that he is not completely unable to shoot. But after joining the Lakers, his injury caused his skills to stagnate and even regress.

This year's offseason, he finally got rid of the trouble of injuries, practiced madly three points, and tried to transform into a real "3D" player. The Lakers need such evolution too much - in the 2027-28 season, only Doncic has a contract with him in the team, and Doncic needs a 3D partner like Finney Smith.

If Van Debiao still cannot improve his external firepower next season, the Lakers are likely to choose to trade him. After all, the four-year, 48 million contract will not expire until 2028. If he continues to have "D without 3", it will seriously hinder the team's strengthening.

But if he can make a stable three-pointer, he will become the perfect puzzle around Doncic, and even reproduce his peak performance of 8+8 per game in the 2022-23 season.

Judging from the technical characteristics, Fan Debiao's defensive talent is unquestionable, and he averaged 1.1 steals per game in his career and showed excellent movement and judgment. If the offseason shooting training results can be converted into game performance, even if the three-point shooting percentage is stable at around 35%, it will greatly enhance the tactical value.

This summer, Van Debiao's sweat will determine his future - will he counterattack become a key pawn of the Lakers, or will he become a bargaining chip in the trading? The answer will be revealed soon.