OKC Thunder: 3 economical free agents Sam Presti should target

OKC Thunder free agent target No. 3: Jarred Vanderbilt

A player still surprisingly unsigned in free agency is Jarred Vanderbilt. The Wolves forward was traded to Minnesota in a four-team trade in 2020. This year he delivered a career campaign after not receiving much playing time in his first two seasons in the NBA.

The 22-year-old restricted free agent projects as one of the best young defenders thanks to his skill set and physical tools. Vanderbilt’s 6’9 frame with a 7’1 wingspan combined with his motor makes him capable as both a wing and big.

Vando’s hands and agility translate into a lot of steals. Among forwards, he tied for 12th with 2.3 steals per 100 possessions.

A direct correlation of Vanderbilt’s great motor is evident on the glass. Per basketball reference, the Kentucky alum averaged 11.6 rebounds and 3.7 on the offensive glass per 36 minutes. As a result, putbacks are a notable source of Vanderbilt’s scoring.

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Vanderbilt’s major weakness is his shooting and lack of scoring versatility. In a half-court offense setting, Vanderbilt’s scoring opportunities significantly dry up as the forward only made one shot beyond eight feet in the entirety of last season, which is a major concern and possibly why Minnesota hasn’t elected to re-sign him yet.

However, the OKC Thunder can alleviate this issue to an extent by playing him as their center, as the Timberwolves did in certain situations when Karl-Anthony Towns and Naz Reid were either injured or on the bench.

Furthermore, Vando is far from a complete negative on offense as he combines his hustle and mobility with some great playmaking flashes in transition. Despite his shooting woes, Vanderbilt still has above-average scoring efficiency thanks to his great touch and finishing around the rim while also having good shot selection relative to his skills at the moment.

As a potential center for the Thunder, Vanderbilt could become a mismatch for opposition centers in some situations thanks to his athleticism and ability on the break. His playmaking potential is also sky-high as he’s already shown many of his passing skills in transition for the T-Wolves last season.

As a restricted free agent, the Wolves can match any offer sheet. Yet, it’s worth taking the risk as Vanderbilt could be a key piece to the Thunder’s future core.