NBA D-League veteran Vander Blue has appeared in more than 150 NBADL games since making his debut in 2013, and once again ranks among the league’s scoring leaders this season. In 35 games for the Los Angeles D-Fenders, Blue has averaged 25.2 PPG and has shot 37.2% on three-point attempts.
Despite his success in the D-League, the former Marquette standout has only appeared in five NBA regular-season games. Nonetheless, at age 24, he continues to believe he’s deserving a longer look in the NBA, telling Alberto de Roa of HoopsHype that he knows it’s eventually going to happen. In fact, as he focuses on producing for the D-Fenders and earning another shot in the NBA, he says he’s not considering more lucrative offers overseas.
“I told my agent I don’t really wanna hear about overseas right now,” Blue said. “I feel like if I start thinking about that I’m gonna lose focus about what I need to do here. And I want my mind, my soul, my body all to be in one spot so I can really be the best I can be.”
Here are a few more odds and ends from across the NBA:
- The BIG3 has confirmed another new team, announcing in a press release that Chauncey Billups, Stephen Jackson, and three other players will team up on a club called the Killer 3s. Previously, we heard that Rashard Lewis and Jason Williams would co-captain a team called the 3 Headed Monsters.
- TNT’s David Aldridge spoke to NBPA executive director Michele Roberts, engaging in an interesting Q&A on the new Collective Bargaining Agreement and her role as an advocate for the league’s players.
- ESPN’s Chad Ford (Insider link) has updated his latest 2017 mock draft in the wake of this week’s trades, which saw two first-round picks change hands. The Trail Blazers and Magic acquired first-rounders from Denver and Toronto, respectively, so Ford has incorporated new picks for those teams.
- There’s no indication that the NBA is seriously considering expansion at the moment, but that didn’t stop Tom Ziller of SBNation.com from identifying his top 13 candidates for a new NBA franchise, from an obvious choice (Seattle) at No. 1 to a surprise choice at No. 13.
The NBA needs to get rid of guaranteed contracts, especially on max deals.
Considering the players are unlikely to give that up, what would you say the owners would give up in return? Players aren’t going to give up their right to fully guaranteed deals (unless specified) without getting something else in return, and it would have to be substantial.
They’d have to extend the season length by 2 weeks without adding games and turn all star break into all star week, give the players more BRI, and meet everything else they ask for. And that’s a starting point. There’s no way they completely stop guaranteeing contracts.
Why would you want that? Are you a Knicks fan?
The NFL is getting away with complete bs, especially with their revenue. Totally ridiculous to suggest the end of guaranteed contracts.
I’d love to see a team back in Seattle. And in the next CBA I’d like to remove max deals altogether. I don’t see what purpose they serve. If some team wants to be stupid and pay someone 45% of their cap, let them. It would make roster construction so much more interesting to follow.