Phoenix Suns trading Eric Bledsoe continues to prove positive
Phoenix Suns fans should be assured that the club made the right move in trading Eric Bledsoe, based on the point guard’s poor game during the first round.
The Phoenix Suns and their fans may not have any big stakes in this postseason, but there’s one story line that the franchise should keep an eye on. When the Eric Bledsoe trade occurred, I wrote that they Suns had clearly lost the trade with the Milwaukee Bucks. However, as the season continued to progress, Bledsoe may not have been a key piece the Suns’ needed to move forward. Bledsoe’s poor game against the Boston Celtics only affirmed the idea that Bledsoe wasn’t going to equal success for the Suns.
Bledsoe’s performance against the Celtics can be captivated in one highlight from the game.
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Besides giving up a timely 3-pointer, Bledsoe’s overall game reflected his poor performance. He ended the game with nine points, four rebounds, four assists and five turnovers, while shooting 4-12 from the floor, 0-2 from downtown and 1-2 from the free throw line. He also fouled out in overtime as well. He simply cracked under the pressure of the playoff atmosphere and that’s something the Suns don’t need when they are ready to compete for a playoff spot.
Bledsoe’s regular season stats show that being on a better team didn’t elevate his game to a whole new level. His per game stats were similar between his season with the Bucks and the multiple seasons he played with the Suns. Even if Bledsoe wanted to stay on the Suns and didn’t force his way out, he wouldn’t have helped the club reach a new level, because he’s not the type of player that can carry a franchise. This isn’t to say that he’s a horrible player at all, but rather he’s not a franchise cornerstone and that’s what the Suns’ need to place next to Devin Booker.
The Phoenix Suns did the right thing in trading Bledsoe. Game one of the playoffs made it clear that he isn’t a franchise player that can be relied upon. While Bledsoe is a very good player, he was never going to be the player the Suns needed moving forward.