NBA Trade Rumors: Eric Bledsoe For Jeremy Lin? Lakers Reportedly Attempting To Acquire Star Point Guard But Lack Trade Assets!

After the Kevin Love trade was finalized, the throne of NBA Trade Rumors king is up for grabs. Eric Bledsoe is fast becoming a contender for the throne because of his stalemate with the Phoenix Suns. A star-hungry team would be very willing to facilitate.

It would be in the best interest of both Bledsoe and the Suns to facilitate a sign and trade agreement instead of Bledsoe taking the qualifying offer. If the former Kentucky Wildcat takes the QO, he will only take $ 3.7 million which is a far cry from the $12 million the Suns were offering him, all the more for the max contract that he's asking for. For the Suns, they will lose Bledsoe to unrestricted free agency next year with nothing in return.

It's now a question of leverage. Bledsoe is a great player but he is not irreplaceable and he has an injury history. That would tilt the odds in the Suns' favor. But the Suns were so close to the playoff picture last year, they don't want to get derailed with an awkward situation. So they would rather trade Bledsoe for a player they could use and move on.

For the team that would want to trade for Bledsoe, they should be ready to pay the max contract-$ 64 million over 4 years. The LA Lakers would be ready to pay that, but what could they offer the Suns.

For the salaries to match, one of either Steve Nash or Jeremy Lin must be a part of the trade. From Lake Show Life: "In order to make the salaries match, the Lakers need to use Steve Nash and Jeremy Lin in trade.  The Lakers are out of cap room. According to the Basketball Insiders Phoenix Suns page, the Suns have $19.9 million available since Eric Bledsoe isn't signed."

While Nash is a Phoenix legend, he is on the verge of retirement and the Suns really want to run and compete. Lin would be a great fit. But the Suns will not take Lin straight up, and it is believed that they would ask for a frontline player-either Jordan Hill or Julius Randle. The Lakers may balk at trading Randle, so they can send Hill back to Arizona (his alma mater). It is also possible that the Suns will also ask for the draft pick the Lakers fleeced from the Houston Rockets (first round protected 2015-probably in the 20s).

Is Eric Bledsoe worth all those assets (Lin, Hill and draft pick) while the Lakers lose their flexibility to run after a free agent next year (Lin's contract is expiring and there are team options on Hill)?