Phoenix Suns GM: Goran Dragic trade is ‘ultimate vote of confidence in Eric Bledsoe’
Feb 20, 2015, 8:32 PM | Updated: 8:32 pm
One of the disturbing parts of the Phoenix Suns’ trade deadline actions, at least to some people, is that the Suns parted with too good of a player in Goran Dragic.
The 28-year-old guard had the second-highest scoring average on the team, at 16.2 points per game, while also handing out the second-most assists per game (4.1).
But part of the reason the Suns felt comfortable dealing Dragic was the presence of the player who ranks ahead of Dragic in both of those categories, Eric Bledsoe.
“I’d say we have great confidence in Eric Bledsoe,” Suns GM Ryan McDonough said at a post-trade deadline press conference Friday at US Airways Center. “I think this trade is the ultimate vote of confidence in Eric Bledsoe with how well he’s played.
“We’ve heard a lot of complaints from fans, media, whatever, that we traded our best player, and our response to that, my response to that I think is that Eric Bledsoe and Markieff Morris are still in Phoenix Suns uniforms, they’re still here.”
Bledsoe, 25, is averaging 17.2 points, 5.9 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game. Limited to just 43 games last season due to various injuries, he has played in all but one game this season after signing a five-year, $70 million contract last September.
He’s shown flashes of star potential, and there is a strong belief that increased responsibility and freedom in the offense will lead to even better results on the court.
“We look forward to seeing what Eric can do,” McDonough said. “We know what he’s done so far, we like what he’s done so far; we think he has potential to be an All-Star. And we think bringing in Brandon Knight alongside him and those two playing together, we think they’ll be terrific together.”
