Sporting News reports that the Suns are still looking to trade Eric Bledsoe after exploring deals before the draft but are finding it difficult based on Bledsoe's health and a "coachability" question. A separate report Sunday night indicated that the Suns were looking to trade the explosive young point guard.
Sporting News reported last week that the Suns had been shopping Bledsoe. But trading Bledsoe, according to league sources, will not prove to be easy for Phoenix. “There was a reason,” one general manager told SN, “that no one wanted to give him that [$70 million] contract last year. I think you still have to worry about his health. I think you worry about how coachable he is, too.”
The Kings, one source said, are expected to express interest in Bledsoe. While Sacramento has been buried in rumors involving center DeMarcus Cousins, a league executive said the Kings have been far more focused on improving the point guard position. The Kings started Darren Collison at the position, but would like to move him into a backup role. And if Sacramento keeps Cousins, bringing in his former Kentucky teammate and good friend surely would help to keep him happy.
Source: SN sources: Eric Bledsoe trade won't be easy for Suns, but Kings interested | NBA | Sporting News.
Let's try and unpack this a bit to make some sense of it.
First, there's an awful lot of smoke here for there to be no fire. However, both reports about possible discussions on trades have come from outside the Suns. It's "league sources" which usually indicates that there are people talking about it. The feeling is that teams have the sense -- or are trying to present the sense -- that the Suns want to move Bledsoe. Phoenix on the other hand, has been adamant, downright emphatic that this isn't the case:
"'Eric Bledsoe is still a young player, in his mid-20s,' McDonough said. 'He's gotten better every year he's been in the NBA. ... It would take a whole lot for us to move Eric Bledsoe, and that's something we haven't even considered. It hasn't been discussed.'"
Source: Ryan McDonough says the Suns aren't looking to deal Eric Bledsoe | FOX Sports.
So either the Suns aren't trying to move Bledsoe and teams are just doing this to screw with them, McDonough's lying (which is not exactly an unprecedented move for a sports GM) or the most likely scenario: it's somewhere in a gray area in between the two worlds. In that scenario McDonough or one of his assistants has called around for standard trade talks, teams have suggested a Bledsoe swap, and been surprised at the Suns' reaction not being "absolutely, no, under no circumstances." There's just no way to know exactly what game is being played out here, but you shouldn't rule any possibility out.
On top of that, having multiple reports inside of a week that the Suns are looking at trading Bledsoe would indicate that this is an ongoing situation and not an isolated event. Something to keep an eye on.
Bledsoe would be great in Sacramento, which at that point with DeMarcus Cousins, Bledsoe and newly-drafted Willie Trill Cauley-Stein would form "Kentucky West." Bledsoe is an explosive, versatile guard who's improved his shooting. The coachability question is one that follows nearly every fiery point guard. Kyle Lowry's a great example of how that doesn't have to hinder a player's career and is mostly about fit. The injury questions are a bit more significant. Bledsoe had part of his meniscus removed in 2014. The partial removal has become the de facto treatment for meniscus tears, which involve shorter recovery times and fewer long-term effects than the outright removal of the meniscus. Still, having the meniscus surgery just a year after suffering an ACL tear does come with some concerns for his long-term health.
Yet we're seeing more and more knee injuries not affect players as often. There are outliers (Brandon Roy for example) but generally speaking players are able to recover, strengthen and compensate for the injury. Even as Bledsoe's explosiveness tails off at the end of his current five-year contract, his skillset will expand to compensate. There's every reason to think he can continue to be productive.
The Suns may not be looking to move Bledsoe. They shouldn't, not with the good thing they have going with him and fellow free agent Brandon Knight. But that's a lot of money tied up in the backcourt, and they seem intent on choosing Knight if it comes to that. If they are looking, he'd fit well in Sacramento, as an aggressive scorer who George Karl would adore for his ability to get up and down the floor. Bledsoe could help make Cousins happy, could help make Karl happy, could put together a team that seems so broken right now.
One problem: the Kings don't have anything they can really move him for. A first-round pick in the future might be worth it to get Bledsoe, but you'd have to pair that with Ben McLemore and other components. The Kings just don't have a lot of talent, and certainly nothing to make up for what Bledsoe brings. Offering multiple first-rounders would lead to mortgaging too much of the future.
It's a tough situation for both sides, which makes you think the most likely scenario is no deal and that Bledsoe stays in Phoenix. We'll keep you updated on the Bledsoe front.
