The Phoenix Suns may look at an Eric Bledsoe trade in the future if things don't go well this season and teams like the LA Lakers, Houston Rockets, Boston Celtics and New York Knicks could be potential landing spots after the team signed Brandon Knight and Tyson Chandler in free agency this summer.
Bledsoe was shopped around the NBA draft earlier this year and while a trade is not looking likely this summer, the team could consider the move down the line. According to Sean Deveney at the Sporting News, the Suns offered Bledsoe in a deal to the Knicks that would have included the fourth overall draft pick coming over. The Knicks did not take that offer, but it showed that the Suns were at least willing to make a move.
Deveney wrote that if the team did not pull off a trade, sources said that the Suns would "continue" shopping Bledsoe in the future. Coach Jeff Hornacek denied the trade rumors and the Arizona Republic reports that Bledsoe is becoming a "face of the franchise" and that could mean a trade is off the table. Either way, Bledsoe will come up at the deadline as a name that could move if the Suns are not in contention, as the team just signed Brandon Knight to an extension and could build around him.
Bledsoe was in that position coming out of the season, as the Suns started off last year with Bledsoe, Goran Dragic and Isaiah Thomas in the backcourt. Things appeared to be working well at first, but with Dragic set to be a free agent, the Suns opted to trade him to Miami and they also gave up on Thomas after signing him in free agency, sending him to the Celtics. Bledsoe signed the same five year, $70 million deal that Knight got and that could force the team to think about a deal if things go south over the next year or two.
Check here for more on the Bledsoe trade rumors and for more on the Suns offseason moves.
The Suns had Bledsoe in the meetings about LaMarcus Aldridge in free agent when the team tried to convince him to sign, so that is also a good barometer of what the team is planning on doing. Bledsoe is a very good player and he has a ton of potential moving forward after averaging 17 points and six assists per game last season. Teams like the LA Lakers, Houston Rockets, Boston Celtics and New York Knicks all could be options down the line for Bledsoe if the Suns shop him and with the salary cap likely rising, Bledsoe's deal will not be too expensive on the cap.
While a deal for Bledsoe may be unlikely, many thought the Suns would build around their trio of guards and that was abandoned quickly. The team obviously likes Knight and it comes after he was acquired in a trade last season. Knight averaged 17 points last year and he comes in looking to have a strong season for the Suns. Chandler gives the team a force in the middle and he comes in after signing a four year deal worth over $50 million.
