The Phoenix Suns are not pushing an Eric Bledsoe trade this summer, but in the future the team could consider making a deal, as they have signed Brandon Knight to an extension and if that happens, teams like the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, NY Knicks, Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings could be potential landing spots for a deal.
The Suns have Bledsoe and Knight together and are hoping things work out, but if things falter like they did last year, the team could put Bledsoe back on the block. The Suns came into last season expecting to make a run in the playoffs with Bledsoe, Goran Dragic and Isaiah Thomas as a three headed monster, but the team ended up trading Dragic and Thomas. According to the Sporting News, the Suns shopped Bledsoe in trades ahead of the draft this year and while they did not come close to making a trade, the team did push the idea at the time.
Sean Deveney reported that the team offered the Knicks Bledsoe in a deal for the number four pick and soon after reports had the Sacramento Kings expressing interest in Bledsoe. Neither team came close to making a deal, but later Marc Stein at ESPN reported that there is "a growing feeling around the league" that the Suns will continue to "explore trade options" with Bledsoe due to Knight getting re-signed.
The Suns may not make a trade now or during the season, but the option is there if things do not work out this year. The Suns signed Tyson Chandler and Knight this offseason and after making a big push for LaMarcus Aldridge, they clearly want to make a run. The team had the same idea last season and ended up trading players and now that could play out again. After Knight was acquired and Dragic was traded, the Suns went 9-17 for a stretch and moving forward things could play out with Bledsoe getting moved at some point down the line.
A team like the Celtics could look at making a big move into next season or during next summer, as they are preparing to sign multiple players with the cap space they have. If the team thinks that certain players will not sign or if they strike out on some of those players, ie Kevin Durant, Mike Conley, Joakim Noah, the team could look at making a trade to make up for it and a player like Bledsoe could be an option. The Celtics are a couple years away from being a real contender and they could step up and make a move for someone like Bledsoe if the free agent targeting doesn't work out.
According to NESN.com, the Celtics are expecting to target two max players in 2016 with the space they will have. The Celtics could be a fit, while the Miami Heat are also planning to target Kevin Durant in free agency. The Heat could make a move if they miss out, while the Knicks and Lakers both have money and both could look into making big moves during the season or next summer. Bledsoe is a productive player and he appears to have gotten over the injury issues that bothered him earlier in his career.
Check here for more on the past trade interest in Bledsoe and the potential for teams to trade for him.