10 NBA players in need of a trade in 2017-18

7. Eric Bledsoe

Eric Bledsoe has said time and time again that he loves playing for the Phoenix Suns, and his offseason workouts and charity work in the community reaffirm that. Likewise, general manager Ryan McDonough has repeatedly stated Bledsoe is this team’s point guard, despite his name frequently popping up in trade rumors.

If Phoenix kept Bledsoe for the 2017-18 season, it wouldn’t be the end of the world. He’s a star from a lost era of Suns basketball, he’s got a nice rapport with Devin Booker in the backcourt and he’s not good enough to disrupt this team’s fate as a leading tanker for the top-heavy 2018 NBA Draft class.

However, given Bledsoe’s history with knee injuries and his age (he’ll turn 28 in December), the Suns are playing with fire if they don’t move him now, while his value is as high as it’s ever going to be. Bled just put up 21.1 points, 6.3 assists and 4.8 rebounds last season and stayed on the court until he was a healthy scratch for the last 15 games.

Bledsoe is an All-Star caliber guard who plays both ends of the floor. A contender in need of backcourt depth or a team in need of a franchise point guard would be willing to give Phoenix’s best player a look, and he’s probably the team’s most valuable piece among those that are currently expendable.

The Suns and Bledsoe are perfectly content with each other, but everyone on the outside would like to see him play for a more competitive team before his prime is over. That outcome would probably be best for Phoenix’s youth movement if he can net them another draft pick or young talent.