Less than a week after Eric Bledsoe trade “rumors” started swirling thanks to speculation in an online chat on ESPN, we’ve got our first official report that the Phoenix Suns are considering trading their best player.
According to Sean Deveney of the Sporting News, the Suns have had discussions with the New York Knicks about trading Bledsoe and their No. 13 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft for the No. 4 pick. Per Deveney:
"“The Suns had talks with the Knicks about dealing the fourth pick for point guard Eric Bledsoe and the No. 13 pick, but Phoenix has not been limited to the Knicks in that regard. The Suns have been dangling Bledsoe in trade offers this offseason and are likely to continue to do so after the draft if Bledsoe is not moved this week, sources confirmed.”"
We’ve already covered why it wouldn’t make sense for the Suns to trade Bledsoe, who’s coming off a career year in which he averaged 17 points, 6.1 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game in his first full season as a starting point guard. He’s a borderline All-Star and a terrific two-way athlete, but if Deveney’s report is to be believed, no stone should be left unturned.
In a potential move like this, there will obviously be pros and cons. In order to gauge the likelihood and practicality of a Bledsoe swap, here’s a look at both sides of this ugly and unexpected coin.
Next: Bledsoe's Value