Grade: B+
When he brings his A-game, Eric Bledsoe is an All-Star-caliber player. He has the potential to be elite, but it’s hard to tell if he has the charisma or leadership qualities to be a franchise player. Can you win a championship with Eric Bledsoe as the best player on your team? Probably not.
But if the Suns are able to somehow land a star in the offseason, Bledsoe would be a phenomenal secondary option. He’s an imposing defender when he’s locked in, he can penetrate at will and his strength and athleticism makes him a terror when the game’s tempo picks up.
The biggest problem Bledsoe faces is how turnover-prone he can be when he’s not completely focused. Whether it’s dribbling into the waiting arms of the help defense, flinging the ball into the stands or jumping to pass with nowhere to throw the ball, Bledsoe needs to take better care of the ball.
That being said, the lanes would open up a bit more for him if the Suns had the kind of perimeter shooting they need to contend moving forward. Brandon Knight should (hopefully) help in that regard, assuming Phoenix re-signs him this summer.
There’s no question about who the MVP of the 2014-15 Phoenix Suns was. He wasn’t capable of becoming a bonafide leader, but it’s possible he was slightly worn out by the grind of his first full season as a starter.
“We’ll try to find the happy medium next year where he’s playing a good amount of minutes but we’re not overloading him and overworking him and asking him to do too much,” McDonough said. “The key for him will be seeing how consistent he can be. He certainly has a bright future at 25 years old and we’re very confident he’ll take a big step again next year.”
More Phoenix Suns Player Grades:
Jerel McNeal
Danny Granger
Brandan Wright
Earl Barron
Marcus Thornton
T.J. Warren
Archie Goodwin
Alex Len
Marcus Morris
Gerald Green
Reggie Bullock
P.J. Tucker
Brandon Knight
Markieff Morris
Next: Phoenix Suns: 10 Worst Moments Of 2014-15