21 Days After Patrick Beverley Advised Jarred Vanderbilt Against Lakers’ $48 Million Extension, Gilbert Arenas & Co Chip In: “Hell of a Gamble”

The Los Angeles Lakers have shown their trust in all the young stars who helped them make a run to the Western Conference Finals last season. Rob Pelinka gave a sizable contract extension to several upcoming stars, including Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and D’Angelo Russell. 6’9 Power Forward Jarred Vanderbilt also bagged a 4-year $48 million extension after his impressive performance last season. He got traded to the Lakers in February and helped LeBron James and Co. turn their season around.

Although Jarred Vanderbilt happily signed a multi-million-dollar deal with the Lakers, former Lakers guard Patrick Beverley advised him otherwise. 21 days after Beverley’s advice to Vanderbilt, Gilbert Arenas and Co chipped in on the discussion.

Gilbert Arenas disagrees with Patrick Beverley

Patrick Beverley admitted to texting Jarred Vanderbilt before he signed his $48 million extension with the Lakers. He advised the 24-year-old to bet on himself and not sign the extension. Beverley wanted Vanderbilt to sign an even bigger contract when he becomes a free agent next season. “Don’t sign an extension, trust me. Hoop, stay in shape and I repeat, do not sign an extension,” Beverley told Vanderbilt. If Vanderbilt had listened to the veteran guard, he would have been eligible to make $65 million for 4-years next season.

Washington Wizards legend Gilbert Arenas and former player Kenyon Martin gave their opinions on Vanderbilt’s extension with the Lakers and Patrick Beverley’s questionable advice during the latest episode of Gil’s Arena. Arenas believes that the difference in the amount Vanderbilt could have received was too little to risk getting a contract. “That’s a hell of a gamble when you averaging single digits,” Kenyon Martin added.

Vanderbilt’s contribution to his team does not necessarily show up on the stat sheet. He averaged just 4.6 points and 3.2 rebounds for the Lakers in last season’s playoffs. But he impacted the floor with his defensive presence and aggression.

Jarred Vanderbilt’s Gamble could have gone either way

Jarred Vanderbilt had a good 2022-23 season and could have made more money based on that performance. But no one can be sure of how things will turn out one year later.

Vanderbilt could have faced the same fate as his former teammate Dennis Schroder faced with the Lakers. The LA Lakers reportedly offered Schroder a 4-year $84 million extension in 2021. But Schroder bet on himself and denied the offer for a more lucrative contract in the future.

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Unfortunately, his gamble backfired as his performance declined, and he came nowhere close to the $84 million offer the following season. The same thing could have happened with Vanderbilt if he took the risk.

Vanderbilt is a role player in a team that constantly keeps making upgrades and changes based on performance. He might even have lost his chance to make the $48 million if things had gone south for him in the upcoming season.