NBA Trade Rumors: Eric Bledsoe Trade Prospects Include The Los Angeles Lakers And Milwaukee Bucks! Boston Celtics Have ‘Slim Chance’
After Greg Monroe of the Detroit Pistons signed the qualifying offer, it became a real scenario for Eric Bledsoe and the Suns. Phoenix would rather be in the trade rumor mill rather than be trapped in a lose-lose situation. They don't have too many options, though.
The Phoenix Suns blog Bright Side of the Sun examined all the possibilities. There were only three plausible candidates unless the Suns get desperate and take whatever they can get.
All factors were considered in the assessment:
Los Angeles Lakers:
"Verdict: EH, MAYBE? This is a weird one. Theoretically, this is one that could work pretty easily and beneficially for both teams: swap Nash, Randle and losing the restrictions on the pick for Bledsoe. LA can afford to pay Bledsoe gobs of money, and Bledsoe can be the heir apparent to Kobe. The Suns get a quality prospect at PF and the chance at a higher lottery pick from LA (face it, they'll still be bad, and their chances would be bound to two oft-injured guards and Carlos 'Spray-on Hair' Boozer...)."
Milwaukee Bucks:
"Verdict: EH, MAYBE? The Bucks are rebuilding, and the one place they have a fairly substantial hole currently is PG. They also have a ton of guys at the big positions, which is the biggest weakness for the Suns. The biggest question is likely, would Bledsoe agree? Something tells me no."
Boston Celtics
"Verdict: SLIM CHANCE. The only reason I have this as a slim instead of fat chance is because of the history between McDonough and Ainge. I have no doubt Ainge would love to have Bledsoe as Rondo insurance. But as it stands the Suns would have to take back a crap contract to make it work (Marcus Thornton or Brandon Bass, most likely). I could see the two GMs working as facilitators for each other, though, in a three team trade, a possible scenario."
Talks may be happening right at this moment, but the Lakers must also realize that if Bledsoe becomes a free agent next year, they could sign him outright without losing promising rookie Julius Randle. Otherwise, the Suns may have to accept other assets the Lakers would be willing to trade which would not be much. But again, not much is better than nothing.