The Phoenix Suns may look at an Eric Bledsoe trade this year if things go south and teams like the LA Lakers, NY Knicks, Boston Celtics, Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings could be future options if that happens and it comes after the Suns signed Brandon Knight and Tyson Chandler in free agency this summer.
The Suns are not shopping Bledsoe now with free agency dying down and the dead part of the offseason coming up, but there is a chance they could make a move this year. Many did not think the team would break up the Goran Dragic-Isaiah Thomas-Bledsoe group last year, but now Bledsoe is the only one left standing. According to the Sporting News, Sean Deveney reported that the team offered Bledsoe in a deal to the Knicks around the NBA draft. The Knicks were not interested at the time, but things could change at the trade deadline.
Teams have made their main moves this offseason and if the Suns do not contend, there is a chance that Bledsoe could be dealt. The Kings reportedly had interest before they signed Rajon Rondo, while the Celtics, Rockets and Mavericks could be options depending on how this season develops. The Arizona Republic writes that Bledsoe is an "important" part of the Suns future, but often times plans can change and if that happens, the team likely will keep Knight over Bledsoe.
Both players are young and both are on five year contracts worth $70 million, but Knight is younger and he was just signed, so Bledsoe is more likely to move if the team makes a deal. The Suns signed Tyson Chandler to a contract and they also pushed hard for LaMarcus Aldridge and moving forward the team could continue looking to add a major name. Head coach Jeff Hornacek said that the team is not looking to trade Bledsoe now, but after being shopped earlier in the summer there is a chance that he could be moved down the line.
Bledsoe is coming in after a strong season in which he stayed healthy and averaged 17 points with 6.1 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game and the additions of Knight and Chandler should help even more. The team is fairly deep at guard with Bledsoe, Knight, Archie Goodwin, Devin Booker and Kendall Marshall and that is another reason why a deal could happen if things do not go well this season. The Suns scratched the playoffs two years ago and last season they missed out and ended up trading both Dragic and Thomas.
Deveney reported in the Sporting News that the Suns could continue shopping Bledsoe after the Knicks deal did not work out, but there is nothing new going on right now. Teams will look very different at the trade deadline and if the Suns are out of it, they likely will consider making a move with Bledsoe. The Rockets signed back Patrick Beverley, but they could look at making a big move, while the Kings could blow things up depending on how this season goes. Knight comes in after averaging 17 points and 5.2 assists last season and now he will get a full year with the Suns after being traded.