2022 NBA Free Agency: 3 point guards that need to be signed
By Dalton Sell
2022 NBA Free Agency: 3 point guards that need to be signed – Eric Bledsoe
Similar to Dennis Schroder, another veteran point guard that dealt with some moving this season was Eric Bledsoe. After starting the season with the LA Clippers, Bledsoe was moved mid-season to the Portland Trail Blazers, where he did not appear in a single game.
Bledsoe was recently let go by the Blazers due to a contract guarantee date for next season, so he will now be able to choose his next destination, and there should be some interested suitors in the 32-year-old.
Though Bledsoe’s production, primarily his scoring, has regressed consistently over the last three seasons, he is still more than capable of being a useful piece in any team’s backcourt. His days of being a full-time starter may be over, but in the right role, he could be a solid addition.
The guard has made a living in this league due to his defense, having earned two All-Defensive selections in his lengthy career. Bledsoe could immediately help fortify a team’s backcourt defense on impact. That goes without mentioning what he brings on the other side of the court, having averaged a solid 13.7 points and 4.7 assists per game in his career.
At this point, the likeliest avenue for Bledsoe is to take a “prove it deal” for the 2022-23 season. Opposing teams are likely not too high on the veteran guard after he was having one of his least productive seasons in nearly a decade in LA and then did not log a single minute of playing time in Portland.
Taking a one-year deal for cheap could help Bledsoe showcase that he can still play at a high level in a proper role. For teams that still need a backup ball-handler and a defensive bulldog, Bledsoe could be a low-risk target that is waiting to get that phone call in 2022 NBA Free Agency.