Vander Blue Deserves an Opportunity With Philadelphia 76ers

With the need of scoring at the guard position, the Philadelphia 76ers should take a close look at the LA D-Fenders’ own Vander Blue.

At this point in the season, the Philadelphia 76ers have lots of problem that need addressing. One such issue lies in the lack of scoring from the guard position. The Sixers could look to possibly this fix this problem by signing Vander Blue.

The Philadelphia 76ers currently have a grand total of five active guards on their roster. Of those 5, I’d say 3 have actual futures in Philadelphia. T.J. McConnell, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, and Nik Stauskas all have shown signs of becoming solid rotational players for the Sixers. Each player has his own redeeming quality that makes him valuable, at least for the foreseeable future.

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The other two, Sergio Rodriguez and Gerald Henderson, have not done enough to truly secure their spots. Obviously, Henderson will stick around since he has 2 more years on his contract. Sergio, on the other hand, will probably leave via free agency this summer. He simply does not have a place with the Sixers.

Now, they did have 6, but with the recent signing of Chasson Randle to the New York Knicks, the number dropped to 5. Randle basically got the Jakarr Sampson treatment. Personally, I think he had the potential to make his mark. The Knicks got lucky that he ended up on the market.

I almost forgot about Jerryd Bayless. Many saw him as the perfect off-ball guard to compliment Ben Simmons. Unfortunately, we have not seen what this combo to produce. With both guys on the shelf with their respective injuries (Ben’s foot and Jerryd’s wrist), the rotation remains open for a potential surprise guy. Vander Blue fits the bill.

Blue’s Game in General

Vander Blue gets overlooked far too often. It boggles my mind that he doesn’t get the call-ups that most D-Leaguers (soon to be G-Leaguers?) get. Honestly, he definitely deserves the chance to earn a roster spot in this league.

To me, Blue would give the Sixers a much needed scoring threat. This year especially, Blue has shown an edge in his game. This season, Blue averages 24.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. Keep in mind, Blue has has consistently hit these marks. Surely, Vander Blue has grown as a player over time.

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In addition, his shooting stroke has improved. He definitely likes creating his own shot, and executes it well. He doesn’t shy away from contact, always finding ways to get to the rim. His true shooting percentage this season clocks in at a career high 58.3 percent. He can do it all on offense.

Now, some will argue that Vander Blue does not do much in other areas of the game. In particular, people point to his lack of assists. But, you have to keep in mind that Blue plays alongside Josh Magette for the majority of this season. If you don’t know much about Magette, the one key aspect of his game that you should know is his passing game. Interestingly enough, he currently leads the D-League in assists per game. Blue plays primarily off the ball, and as such, does not rack up as many dimes.

Blue’s Fit With The Sixers

If the Philadelphia 76ers need anything at this juncture in the season, (other than a healthy Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid) scoring at the guard position tops the list. Interestingly enough, Vander Blue can certainly do that for them. His multi-facetted offensive game, coupled with his ability to work on and off the ball, makes him my pick if I’m general manager Bryan Colangelo.

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Like Chasson Randle, Vander Blue fits more as an off-ball scoring guard. If you keep him in that sort of role, Blue can excel. He can score in a multitude of ways and would easily fit what coach Brett Brown’s coaching scheme. He’s a younger, cheaper alternative to a guy like Monta Ellis or Lou Williams.

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If possible, the Philadelphia 76ers should give him a 10-day contract. Who knows, maybe he plays his way into a multi-year deal. If that happens, maybe we can see him and Ben Simmons on the floor together. Let’s just hope that when that time comes, Bryan Colangelo doesn’t waive him to make room for a trade piece. Hopefully, the Philadelphia 76ers consider Vander Blue as a potential D-League prospect.