As the Phoenix Suns actively try to move their star point guard, here’s a look at 10 possible Eric Bledsoe trades and the caveats that make them hard to accomplish.
To say it’s been a tumultuous two weeks for the Phoenix Suns would be an understatement. No other team can claim it lost two of its first three games by 42+ points, fired its head coach, had its star player tweet he doesn’t want to be there and then immediately placed him on the trade block after a hilariously lame excuse involving a nail salon.
Less than four games into the 2017-18 NBA season, ESPN‘s NBA Trade Machine is working overtime to sort through the various Eric Bledsoe trades that could go down in the near future.
The question is, which possible suitor will swoop in for one of the league’s most underrated but injury-prone two-way guards, and what price will that team be able to get him for?
At age 27, Bledsoe is still in his prime and is coming off a career year in which he averaged 21.1 points, 6.3 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game. However, he’s also dealt with three meniscus injuries in his seven-year career, alternating between healthy seasons and campaigns that were either disrupted or ended by knee surgery.
So far, Suns pursuit of a young player with significant talent for Bledsoe is a hurdle to a deal. Bledsoe's trade value isn't at an apex.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 24, 2017
Further hurting Bledsoe’s current trade value is the fact that A) Everyone in the league knows he wants out, B) Everyone knows the Suns are trying to trade him and C) General manager Ryan McDonough’s public comments bashed his point guard’s leadership. Accurate as he might have been, going on air and devaluing a trade asset isn’t the best method for getting a fair return.
At this point, the Suns will have to settle for well below Bledsoe’s actual trade value, which is a shame considering some (this writer included) believed McDonough should’ve moved him when his value was at its highest, near the trade deadline last season or over the summer.
In any case, any hope Phoenix had of getting a talented young player, a semi-valuable first round draft pick or even including Bledsoe as part of a blockbuster deal for a star may have gone out the window. Bearing all this in mind, here’s a look at 10 potential trade suitors for Eric Bledsoe, what the deals might look like and what obstacles would prevent those trades from going through.