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Should The Suns Trade Eric Bledsoe For A Draft Pick?

By Gerald Bourguet

Jan 21, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe reacts in the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at US Airways Center. The Suns defeated the Blazers 118-113. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 21, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe reacts in the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at US Airways Center. The Suns defeated the Blazers 118-113. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Eric Bledsoe
Mar 29, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe reacts in the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder at US Airways Center. The Thunder defeated the Suns 109-97. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

The Need For A Star

Superstars win titles. The Phoenix Suns do not have a superstar, and Eric Bledsoe is not capable of becoming that superstar. Therefore, logically speaking, the widespread apathy toward trading Bledsoe makes sense…to a certain extent.

If you take a look back on the list of NBA champions, you’ll notice an overwhelming trend: the vast majority of championship teams are led by a player who was originally drafted by the team.

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    • The Los Angeles Lakers had Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant. The Boston Celtics had Bill Russell and Larry Bird. The Detroit Pistons has Isiah Thomas, the Chicago Bulls had Michael Jordan, the Houston Rockets had Hakeem Olajuwon, the San Antonio Spurs had Tim Duncan, the Golden State Warriors had Stephen Curry…you get the picture.

    With the exception of LeBron James’ Miami Heat, that defensive-minded Detroit Pistons team in 2004 and maybe Shaquille O’Neal‘s Lakers, the last team to win a title without its best player being an original draft selection by that team was Moses Malone‘s Philadelphia 76ers in 1983. That was more than 30 years ago.

    The Suns don’t have a star, so if you’re looking for a reason to trade Bledsoe, it’s because the overwhelming history of the NBA indicates that you need a top lottery pick to land the kind of franchise player who can captivate fans, attract other talent and eventually spearhead a title contender. As promising as this rebuild has seemed at times, it’s down in the dumps right now and Suns supporters haven’t enjoyed watching a player of that caliber since Steve Nash.

    The question is, if you’re ready to follow this line of reasoning as a rationale for trading Bledsoe, is there anyone in the 2015 NBA Draft class capable of becoming that franchise player?

    Next: Options At No. 4

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