With guard Chris Paul agreeing to sign a five-year, $107 million extension, the Los Angeles Clippers' option for trading guard Eric Bledsoe appear to be expanding.
According to sources of ESPN.com, the Clippers have exchange sign-and-trade scenarios with both the Milwaukee Bucks and Dallas Mavericks in potential deals that would bring either J.J. Redick or fellow free agent O.J. Mayo to L.A.
It was said that the Clippers began talks with Dallas over Mayo within the first few hours of NBA free agency Monday. Talks with the Bucks, meanwhile, center on Redick, with one source close to the process saying that a face-to-face meeting between Redick and the Clippers was imminent.
Although the prospect of Mayo or Redick seem promising, Clippers coach Doc Rivers would prefer to keep Bledsoe for another season.
Bledsoe, a dynamic sparkplug off the bench and outstanding defender, has spent the last two seasons serving as Paul's apprentice and is widely regarded as being ready for a starting role. The Clippers have acknowledged as much, but it remains to be seen what impact Rivers' arrival has on their immediate trade plans.
However, the Clippers believe that if they're able to acquire another player or two that Rivers likes, it'll make it easier to convince him to part ways with Bledsoe before the start of the season.
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