The Los Angeles Clippers are trying everything to work out a trade that would add one more key piece to the team, hopefully enticing free-agent-to-be Chris Paul to re-sign. While team officials are currently looking towards the Boston Celtics to pull off a deal, the Indiana Pacers have now entered the mix. A trade with the Celtics has officially stalled, opening the door for a deal that would send Eric Bledsoe to the Indiana Pacers for forward Danny Granger.
The Clippers are talking to both the Orlando Magic and the Pacers about a deal for Bledsoe that would either get the team Arron Afflalo or Granger. Granger is entering into the final year of his contract and coming off a season when he sat on the bench after undergoing knee surgery. The Pacers are certainly hoping the All-Star can find a return to form and stay with the team through the final year of his deal, but they are keeping their options open if a better deal presents itself.
Afflalo has been the subject of trade talks over the past few months. The Magic have been attempting to deal him for a while. He would be a constant shooting presence for the Clippers. He is young and a weapon on both offense and defense. Granger is more of a long-shot considering his injury history. While he is a versatile scoring combo when healthy, but he missed an entire season and is a bit of an unknown at the moment. Giving up Bledsoe for a player that may or may not be healthy is a big risk for the Clippers.
Bledsoe has been a trade piece for some time. It was assumed that Bledsoe would be traded in 2014 if Paul re-signed no matter what. The Clippers are not giving up on the idea of sending Bledsoe to the Celtics in large trade, but believe that Granger is a near lock if those talks do not workout.
Bledsoe was a huge part in the Clippers' successful 2012-13 season, but he is set to become a restricted free agent and will likely command a massive contract next season. Los Angeles main concern is signing Paul to whatever size contract he wants, leaving Bledsoe as bait to leave.