Orlando Magic: The pros and cons of going after Eric Bledsoe

Pro: He wouldn’t cost the team a lot of talent to acquire

Bledsoe’s actions, essentially tweeting that he wanted out of his current situation, forces the hands of his employers. Now that teams know this, Bledsoe’s trade value has decreased and it won’t cost what it once would have to acquire him.

Bledsoe is making $14.5 million this season and $15 million next year, figures that can be absorbed if the team were to open up a roster space for him.

If the Magic were to offer some second rate deal including some sort of combination of a second round pick (or two?), Mario Hezonja, Mack, or even Augustin himself and the Suns agreed, it would be hard to say no to.

Offers like the one below may have been plausible to start the season, but right now they just seem silly.

Obviously first round picks shouldn’t enter the conversation, or any of the team’s up-and-coming players outside of Hezonja.

But the Magic are in a position not a lot of other teams are in that they could do with a higher level floor general, so their below-market offer may beat out that of other teams if the Suns get desperate.

Of the remaining teams in the East, the following don’t need a starting-caliber point guard and would be foolish to pay the money Bledsoe is on for a backup.

• Boston Celtics
• Toronto Raptors
• Washington Wizards
• Milwaukee Bucks (debatable, but who do they give up for Bledsoe?)
• Charlotte Hornets
• New York Knicks
• Brooklyn Nets
• Philadelphia 76ers
• Miami Heat
• Chicago Bulls (depending on how they feel about their rebuild)

That leave the Detroit Pistons, Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers and Atlanta Hawks as possible destinations. Could one of them make a better offer than the Magic? Of course.

But it dramatically shrinks the potential destinations for Bledsoe if he wanted to come East, with about as many teams in the Western Conference in need of a point guard too.

Sure Bledsoe has his problems, but if the price is right then the Magic would have to think long and hard about doing a deal.