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Brooklyn Nets: Vander Blue, a Talented Guard With Swagger

By Manan Modi

Apr 15, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Vander Blue (12) dribbles against Sacramento Kings guard Nik Stauskas (10) in the first half during the game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 15, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Vander Blue (12) dribbles against Sacramento Kings guard Nik Stauskas (10) in the first half during the game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Brooklyn Nets are in talent-finding mode, as the team acquired a few young players, KJ McDaniels and Andrew Nicholson at the trade deadline. But Brooklyn could look to the D-League to find another talented player.

The Brooklyn Nets are in the heart of Brooklyn, one of New York City’s five boroughs. This team truly needs someone who has a high level of intensity on the court, who can emerge as the vocal locker-room leader, and provides that additional, needed boost of motivation.

What the Nets are missing is someone who brings a certain form of swagger in addition to high basketball IQ and talent. If the Nets want to make changes and re-evaluate their roster, they need to consider adding players who can make an immediate impact on the court with the skills they have.  

This is where Vander Blue comes in.

The Brooklyn Nets seem to be going in the right direction, philosophy wise, under Kenny Atkinson and Sean Marks, but they’ve only won nine games as of this season, losing the other 49. The Nets seem sluggish, considering that they’re on a 16 game losing streak that has extending since prior to the all star break. However, they are playing like a team, facilitating ball movement on offense, and giving a high level of effort defensively. It’s just that nearly every other team they play may have the edge talent-wise.

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With teams that are increasingly stacking up on all-stars along with acquiring top free-agent prospects to form deep benches, it seems as if it’s a lost cause for the Nets to try and seek out ways to find new additions to the team. On the other hand, many of these top teams are not focusing their time on scouting the D-League but are looking for solid veterans who have a proven track-record in the NBA, with the Cavaliers being the prime example due to their most recent pursuits of Derrick Williams, Deron Williams, and Andrew Bogut.

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Vander Blue is currently 24 years old and has had his fair share of time to develop in the D-League. He’s still young and has time to develop even further, and it’d be interesting to see how he would work with the current Nets roster. At 6’4”, Blue can switch between point guard and shooting guard, which would give the Nets added versatility in the back court. 

He is a solid three point shooter (with a lightning-quick release), he can drive for the lay-up or dunk, uses the euro-step to his advantage, and developed a perimeter defense that has much potential, given his speed and height. Blue can play off the ball as well, so the versatility and upside that comes with his addition would serve the team well.

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Most importantly, he has this swagger to his play that the Nets lack at the moment.

When you’re at a basketball game, there’s usually that one player who drills a deep-three or goes for the rack-attack, causing the announcer to yell their name out. There’s not really that one player for the Nets who provides that drive and motivation for the other players on the team. The last guard that made other players better as well as carried the team on his back on every night was Devin Harris. Blue can bring both a continuous scoring threat, (22.6 ppg with the D-Fenders) and a defensive presence to the Nets every game.

Not to mention, he played in college for Marquette, a defensively-oriented team. He has had to prove himself offensively in order to get time in the NBA, so his work-ethic shouldn’t be a question for the Nets.

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The intensity he brings to the court is something that is rare and hard to find in the NBA. You don’t find a player too often who is willing to match his swagger on the court with a consistent effort and determined mindset. Brooklyn should considering signing Vander Blue because he’s a hungry, determined, versatile guard, who can add to the Nets’ developing young core.