The Phoenix Suns are shopping an Eric Bledsoe trade heading into the NBA draft and the NY Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics could be options for a deal if the team switch draft picks, as Phoenix may be looking to get D'Angelo Russell, Emmanuel Mudiay or Kristaps Porzingis if they trade the guard to New York in the top four.
The Suns are coming into the offseason after trading away Isaiah Thomas and Goran Dragic and now they may move Bledsoe, the last of their three headed guard monster. The three players started off the season well enough, but Dragic did not fit in well to the new offense and he pushed a trade out of Phoenix. The team also moved Thomas to the Celtics and now they could look at moving Bledsoe, as Sean Deveney of the Sporting News reports that the team has talked with the Knicks about a deal.
Bledsoe signed a five year deal last summer for $70 million after dealing with trade reports and now he is mixed up in them again. Bledsoe had a strong season while averaging 17 points and over six assists per game and he was the most valuable player for the Suns based on PER. The Suns are looking to rebuild and they may feel that getting the number four pick from the Knicks or a higher pick from where they are now is worth making the move.
The team has already traded Dragic and Thomas from earlier in the season and the Knicks reportedly are considering trading out of the fourth spot. The Knicks have issues at point guard and money to burn and that could make a deal possible. The move with the Knicks likely has the Suns targeting D'Angelo Russell or Emmanuel Mudiay, while names like Justise Winslow, Jahlil Okafor and Kristaps Porzingis are also options if the Lakers are involved.
The Lakers have reportedly been looking into a trade with DeMarcus Cousins heading into the draft and if that doesn't end up going through, the team could work a deal with the Suns for Bledsoe. The Lakers have Jordan Clarkson as a trade chip and they could use him if the team brings in Bledsoe. The report from Deveney writes that the Suns are talking to other teams than the Knicks and that if a deal does not happen for the draft, they are "likely to continue" talking with teams through the summer to get a deal done.
The Boston Celtics have been looking at deals this summer ahead of the draft and they have been connected to DeMarcus Cousins as well. The team is shopping Marcus Smart and since they have two first round picks and a package of other picks to dangle, they also could be an option for the Suns. The Celtics reportedly want to move up in the draft and they have targeted Willie Cauley-Stein as one of their main options in workouts. Bledsoe had a strong season and the Suns are looking for a package of picks and potentially some players if they make a move with the guard to the Knicks or Lakers or another team.
