Written by Matt Moore at CBS Sports.com
The Suns are imploding. Luckily, that’s the Phoenix Suns, and not “the sun.” Phoenix already has fired coach Earl Watson after an 0-3 start during which it was outscored by 92 points. (The Suns got off the schneid Monday by holding off the Kings 117-115.)
The spiral isn’t finished yet. Veteran point guard Eric Bledsoe’s tweet Sunday ensured that:
I Dont wanna be here
— Eric Bledsoe (@EBled2) October 22, 2017
That, obviously, created a firestorm. Bledsoe has been involved in trade rumors for three seasons, and with the team mired at a low point for turmoil — even for a franchise that has become synonymous with it — the presumption is that this was an outright request for a trade from a poisonous situation. It was reasonable to expect some sort of “I was hacked” or “one of my friends took my phone” followups from Bledsoe but that never came Sunday. On Monday, the Suns essentially confirmed it was a trade request and that he has been granted leave from the team while they find a solution to the situation.
It’s clear that Bledsoe doesn’t fit with where the team is headed, which is a clean slate. (It’s not accurate to describe it as a rebuild, as the Suns are basically in the middle of a rebuild anyway.) So where could he go?
What teams are getting with Bledsoe
Bledsoe is still really valuable. Even in a league where nearly every team has a franchise point guard, Bledsoe’s combination of skill and athleticism is rare. Bledsoe has shot over 47 percent the past four seasons and topped 20 points and six assists per game the past two seasons. Also, when his entire team isn’t playing like they’re undergoing a massive existential crisis, he’s a good-to-great defender. He’s still extremely athletic even after major knee surgeries and is one of the fastest players end to end.
That said, the injuries are a major concern; he’s only played more than 70 games three times in seven years. Also, he bears as much responsibility as any player for the Suns’ woes as he’s been the best player on the team for years during their myriad failures.
Overall, however, he’s a top-15 point guard if he’s on a team with talent and good culture. Here’s a look at some options for a deal. (NOTE: This attempts to provide Phoenix with some level of return on investment, but there’s a very good chance that the Suns are forced to essentially trade Bledsoe for nothing, just as several big-name players have been dealt for little return in the past six months.)
Indiana Pacers:
- Pacers receive: Eric Bledsoe
- Suns receive: Thaddeus Young, 2018 first-round pick (protected 1-20 in 2018, 1-14 in 2019, 1-5 in 2020), Chicago’s 2018 second-round pick.
Why it works: Indiana doesn’t want to tank. It’s not in their cultural DNA. Bledsoe isn’t going to pack the arena or recoup the Paul George fiasco, but he fits on a number of levels. You’re swapping out veteran on a mid-sized contract for another one, but a better one, and one that fits with the roster. Bledsoe and Victor Oladipo would make a great tandem, especially defensively, and it increases the chances that the Pacers are no worse than “mediocre” which is kind of where they call home.
For Phoenix, it’s the pick. It’s heavily protected, but the hope of a pick down the line is more than what they’e going to get elsewhere. Indiana can make the deal with a reasonable safety net knowing the odds of conveying that pick are low, and they are less likely to acquire a player of Bledsoe’s caliber through other means. Meanwhile, this continues one of the longest standing traditions in the NBA, whereby Darren Collison is given a starting job only to see it replaced within 18 months of arriving on a new team.
To continue reading this article, click here.
