Sports Illustrated lists Suns’ Bledsoe among players who should be traded

Andrew Sharp of Sports Illustrated listed five NBA players who should be traded but won’t be before February’s deadline, including Suns point guard Eric Bledsoe.

Bledsoe, 27, has been with Phoenix since the Suns acquired him from the Clippers in the summer of 2013. He’s currently in the third year of a five-year, $70 million contract. Given that the Suns are in a rebuilding stage, Bledsoe’s name has arisen in trade rumors.

Sharp points out that Bledsoe being on a different timetable can be seen as a reason to keep him, but ultimately means they should look to deal him.

I understand the case for keeping Eric Bledsoe in Phoenix. He’s a solid veteran on a team that will need guidance as it grows. He keeps them competitive on a weekly basis, and it helps the development of guys like Marquese Chriss and Devin Booker to put them in close games. The rationale makes sense. But then …  if the season continues the way it has, there’s a good chance the Suns will be near the top of the lottery again. Most of the best options will be point guards, especially given the lottery picks Phoenix has already stockpiled. Trading Bledsoe now allows the Suns to max out his value before a crowded backcourt forces them to give him away for 50 cents on the dollar next February (like Brandon Knight, this February).

With players like Washington’s Markelle Fultz and UCLA’s Lonzo Ball likely entering the 2017 draft as point guards, the Suns, near the bottom of the Western Conference, will have options for a young replacement for Bledsoe if they want one.

Bledsoe has suffered two significant knee injuries during his time with the Suns, and that may be damaging his market value. When he’s healthy, he can be a star-level talent. He’s currently averaging a career-high 21 points and 6.2 assists per game, and is one of only a handful of players to average 19 points, five rebounds and five assists per.

Sharps mentioned a few teams that could use a starting PG of Bledsoe’s caliber.

For example, Bledsoe would look great in Denver, an asset-rich would-be playoff team that’s currently splitting time between Jameer Nelson and Emannuel Mudiay at point guard. Or maybe Milwaukee? Minnesota? New York? Philly? Bledsoe’s 27 years old, he’s one of the best two-way point guards in the league, and he’s got two years left on his deal after this season. There are injury risks, but if he stays healthy, he’s an elite option on both ends of the floor. It’s a smart gamble. 10 different teams should be harassing the Suns about Bledsoe.

Trade rumors regarding Bledsoe have flared up from time to time over the last couple seasons. ESPN’s Zach Lowe reported in October that the Suns were not interested in trading Bledsoe. Phoenix has until Feb. 23 to decide whether it’s sticking to that.