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10 NBA Teams That Should Trade For Eric Bledsoe

By Gerald Bourguet

Jan 5, 2017; Dallas, TX, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe (2) brings the ball up court against the Dallas Mavericks during the first quarter at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 5, 2017; Dallas, TX, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe (2) brings the ball up court against the Dallas Mavericks during the first quarter at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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Eric Bledsoe
Nov 18, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Jeff Teague (44) shoots the ball as Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe (2) defends in the first quarter of the game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /

7. Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers are slowly but surely turning their season around, so it’s entirely possible they’re not very active around the trade deadline. But even Jeff Teague‘s midseason resurgence shouldn’t distract from his status as a free agent this summer, and there’s no question Bledsoe represents an upgrade on both ends of the floor.

If Larry Bird felt like swinging for the fences, trading for a superior point guard who will be on the books through 2018-19 is one avenue he could take. Bledsoe’s prime wouldn’t line up with Myles Turner‘s, but it would put another star piece next to Paul George and help accelerate their ascent back up the Eastern Conference food chain.

Teague has been solid lately, averaging 16.4 points and 9.4 assists per game on .532/.459/.880 shooting splits since the calendar flipped to 2017. But he’s not a great defender and it’d cost the Pacers a pretty penny to retain him in free agency. Wouldn’t a Big Three of Bledsoe, PG-13 and Turner be a more promising core, especially with Thaddeus Young not included in the swap?

Indiana would have to give up the promising Glenn Robinson III and a future first round draft pick to make it worth Phoenix’s while, since the Suns probably wouldn’t try too hard to re-sign the 28-year-old Teague in free agency.

But that’s a small price to pay for a difference-maker at point guard and would help move the franchise in a more definitive direction. The only problem is, GRIII and a first-rounder with medium value might be too small a price for Bledsoe, especially if the Suns weren’t interested in re-signing Teague.

Now that the Pacers have won eight of their last 11 games, Bird may not be looking to significantly alter the roster this late in the season either.