Eric Bledsoe trade talks heat up after Suns send guard home
Oct 24, 2017, 10:13 AM | Updated: 11:44 am
Upon the Phoenix Suns sending point guard Eric Bledsoe home on Monday, and following a cryptic tweet sent out Sunday just before the team fired coach Earl Watson, trade talks began to fire up.
Still, the Suns are struggling to find value in the market. Specifically, Phoenix is searching for young players to land in any deal.
So far, Suns pursuit of a young player with significant talent for Bledsoe is a hurdle to a deal. Bledsoe's trade value isn't at an apex.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 24, 2017
Bledsoe was not expected to suit up for Phoenix again, and John Gambadoro of 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station said a few teams were in pursuit of the 28-year-old guard.
Basketball Insiders’ Michael Scotto reports the Denver Nuggets have discussed a trade with Phoenix involving young point guard Emmanuel Mudiay and Kenneth Faried.
The teams had already discussed a similar deal on draft day.
The Milwaukee Bucks have also had conversations with the Suns, The New York Times’ Marc Stein reports.
A straight swap of veteran big man Greg Monroe, whose $17.9 million per year contract is expiring, would work. So would the inclusion of 26-year-old big man John Henson and another smaller contract for Bledsoe.
The New York Knicks also reached out to Phoenix, reports ESPN’s Ian Begley. Basketball Insiders’ Michael Scotto reports the Suns asked for rookie point guard Frank Ntilikina and big man Willy Hernangomez in exchange for Bledsoe, but ESPN’s Ian Begley confirmed the interest and added that New York is opposed to dealing either player.
Phoenix would be required to take on a significant amount of additional salary to acquire those two players on their rookie deals.
A trade with New York would reunite Bledsoe with former Suns coach Jeff Hornacek.
Phoenix and New York were reportedly in talks regarding Kristaps Porzingis prior to the NBA Draft, and while their star is unlikely to be involved, the Knicks have since — via the Carmelo Anthony trade — acquired several more smaller contracts they could patch together and ship to the Suns.
Bledsoe is averaging 15.7 points, 3.0 assists and 2.3 rebounds per game so far in 2017-18. He is shooting 40 percent and 31 percent from three-point range through three outings.
