The Phoenix Suns have signed Eric Bledsoe as a restricted free agent and the team may also look at a trade with Goran Dragic and Roy Hibbert, as the Pacers are looking for an upgrade at point guard following the Paul George injury and the Suns already have Isaiah Thomas and Tyler Ennis along with trying to keep Bledsoe in what is a crowded backcourt.
According to ESPN.com, reporter Marc Stein has written how the Pacers have been interested in trading for Dragic for some time, but now that Bledsoe is signed along with his brother Zoran, so that likely means any deal is off. The team knows that Dragic has a player option coming up and now that they have so many guards, there is a good chance someone will get traded. The team signed Isaiah Thomas and drafted Tyler Ennis and now they have Dragic, Dragic and Archie Goodwin as well.
The Suns have been looking for a veteran big man since last season and now Hibbert could be an option, as Pro Basketball Talk reported that the two teams talked initially about a deal, but did not get deep into talks. The Pacers would love an upgrade over George Hill, but all of this was from before Paul George was injured and now that could change everything for the teams. The Pacers now have a tough division with the Cavaliers and the Bulls and that could mean making a move at some point this season or at the deadline with a trade if things don't start off well.
The Sporting News reported earlier in the offseason that the Pacers were shopping Hibbert and that came before reports from Pro Basketball Talk about the interest in Greg Monroe and Dragic. Marc Stein wrote earlier in the offseason on ESPN.com that the Pacers "dream" of a Dragic trade, as that would give the team a major upgrade over George Hill at point guard. Dragic is coming off of a great season that saw him win most improved player of the year and he averaged 20 points and nearly six assists per game.
George being out is a massive blow to the Indiana Pacers as well as the NBA as a whole, as he is a budding superstar and he was looking to rise to the next level this season. George has been one of the most consistent players in the league over the past couple years and he has been working hard to get better and now he will have to work very hard to just get back on the court. The Pacers shopped Roy Hibbert this offseason but that was before the George injury and now it's very unlikely that he will be moved. Losing George is a big blow, but injuries can happen everywhere and Derrick Rose knows that better than anyone and so do the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls made the playoffs both years without Rose and now the Pacers will have to find a way to make it without George.
