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Los Angeles Lakers: 3 reasons signing Vander Blue was a good move

By Patrick Hardy

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 2: Vander Blue #17 and Thomas Bryant #31 of the Los Angeles Lakers react during the game against the Denver Nuggets during a preseason game on October 2, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 2: Vander Blue #17 and Thomas Bryant #31 of the Los Angeles Lakers react during the game against the Denver Nuggets during a preseason game on October 2, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers
ONTARIO, CA – OCTOBER 04: Vander Blue #17 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball during a preseason game against the Denver Nuggets at Citizens Business Bank Arena on October 4, 2017 in Ontario, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images) /

2. Veteran Leadership

Over the last offseason or two, you’ve seen the Los Angeles Lakers do their best to input a veteran presence into the locker room. Brook Lopez, Luol Deng, Corey Brewer, Lou Williams are all examples of this.

However, what has been few and far between have been veteran leaders from within the organization. Granted, we have seen Metta World Peace in the role of the veteran mentor, and even though he is not present, Kobe Bryant is only a phone call away.

The veteran leadership might be the biggest asset that the Vander Blue signing brings. Blue played three years at Marquette before coming to the pro ranks via the Philidelphia 76ers. Blue never appeared in a regular season game with the 76ers. Instead, he was waived after the preseason and headed overseas.

Blue didn’t last long overseas, appearing in seven games before being waived. He then bounced around the now G-league from 2013-2015. He came to the Lakers organization in 2015, and last year was named the MVP of the D-League.

In his MVP campaign, he averaged 25 points on 43 percent shooting, three assists, and five rebounds. That MVP season in the now G-League and impressive Summer League earned him the two-way contract he’s currently under for the Lakers.

Vander’s experiences being out of the league for nearly two seasons and fighting his way back into the NBA is a valuable tool for this young Los Angeles Lakers squad. Blue, now 25 years old, brings the experience and heart of seasoned veteran in this league. This, to me, more important than anything that happens on the court. It is an amazing quality that makes his signing back in October a valuable one.

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