The Case for Trading Eric Bledsoe

[lilfishi22]

The only reason to trade Bledsoe would to bottom out completely, which wouldn't work this season because Philly is going 1-81 this season.

Unless it's a trade to make us more traditional (PG/SG backcourt) which could be a positive for the team.

Wouldn't it be smarter to move Knight? I mean, I really like Knight as a 2 guard, but there aren't many PGs in the league who can guard bigger guys like Bled and play the point or many SGs who can play-make so Knight doesn't have to.

That would probably be the smarter move

[Revived]

The only reason to trade Bledsoe would to bottom out completely, which wouldn't work this season because Philly is going 1-81 this season.

Unless it's a trade to make us more traditional (PG/SG backcourt) which could be a positive for the team.

Wouldn't it be smarter to move Knight? I mean, I really like Knight as a 2 guard, but there aren't many PGs in the league who can guard bigger guys like Bled and play the point or many SGs who can play-make so Knight doesn't have to.

I don't think Knight really has much trade value. To many non Suns fans, he even has negative trade value due to his $70 million contract even despite the rising cap and his young age. Good news is fans don't make trades, GMs do and hopefully they see more in him.

[SideSwipe]

Unless it's a trade to make us more traditional (PG/SG backcourt) which could be a positive for the team.

Wouldn't it be smarter to move Knight? I mean, I really like Knight as a 2 guard, but there aren't many PGs in the league who can guard bigger guys like Bled and play the point or many SGs who can play-make so Knight doesn't have to.

I don't think Knight really has much trade value. To many non Suns fans, he even has negative trade value due to his $70 million contract even despite the rising cap and his young age. Good news is fans don't make trades, GMs do and hopefully they see more in him.

Sorry, but I think this is pretty bogus SF. Knight is a legit 20ppg scorer. He is not a great defender, the trick is he is most often defending a 2 guard. He can also pass, though that is not his strength. Would most teams want Bledsoe more than Knight? Yes. But in this new world, Knight is probably underpaid for what he is currently delivering. If you think of him as a point guard in this system, he has some flaws, if you think of him as a shooting guard, he is close to top 10. As an example even as a PG in RPM rankings (Knight is #17 overall among pg's) he is still higher than Mike Conley. Also before his current rough stretch Knight was with Bledsoe in the top 10, if I remember correctly.

All told this slump is hurting him and us, but he is definitely worth the money he is being paid. Guys like Knight will be getting $16-$18 million this coming summer.

[sunskerr]

"X player is not a number 1 option" is not a reason to trade a player. If we bottom out and trade Bledsoe, that's one step back. And it isn't one step back to take two steps forward because right now we are at the stage where we need to take one step forward. And people have to realise that Knight is 24 and will be on a very good contract after this season. In which case if you still wanted to trade him, next season would be the best option.

There are multiple spots on this roster that are in bigger need than the PG and SG spots, and complaining about the guard spots essentially distracts from what our real player issues are: PJ ****ing Tucker is our starting SF and Leuer, while certainly a good player and a great find may very well outstay his welcome in the starting lineup.

[TASTIC]

Trading Bledsoe would be a backwards move. At least moving Knight they can kind of play it as a 'he was acquired as an asset' sort of angle. Bledsoe is McD's boy and trading him would signal a complete change for an already pretty dysfunctional franchise.

Knight + Kieff + Goodwin + CLE 1st for Favors + Hood...who says no? UTA, in my mind

[NTB]

Knight has a higher BBIQ? Hell no.

[bigfoot]

"X player is not a number 1 option" is not a reason to trade a player. If we bottom out and trade Bledsoe, that's one step back. And it isn't one step back to take two steps forward because right now we are at the stage where we need to take one step forward. And people have to realise that Knight is 24 and will be on a very good contract after this season. In which case if you still wanted to trade him, next season would be the best option.

There are multiple spots on this roster that are in bigger need than the PG and SG spots, and complaining about the guard spots essentially distracts from what our real player issues are: PJ ****ing Tucker is our starting SF and Leuer, while certainly a good player and a great find may very well outstay his welcome in the starting lineup.

What does it matter if we upgrade our PF or SF positions. We have two ball dominate guards on the team. Between them they take 52% of the available shots and turn the ball over 7 out of 17 times per game. That's right these two are primarily responsible for the Suns being the second worst turnover prone team only just better than the lowly Sixers.

These two are the definition of ball hogs ... not point guards. They won't pass the ball to a new SF or PF so it really doesn't matter if we replace Tucker or Leuer/Kief/Telly. Hell they can't even get it to the player with the highest offensive rating in the league last year. The previous 5 years Chandler had an average offensive rating of 128. This year 103 ... a full 25 points lower. These two have no idea how to deliver a Pick-n-roll ball to a quality C in order to get them a high percentage shot.

Trade Knight or Bledsoe for a real pass first point guard. Which ever one is left can play the shooting guard position but for sh*ts sake don't let either one be the dominate ball handler.

[Damkac]

Yeah, like they have great scorer on this team to pass

The only reason to trade Bledsoe would to bottom out completely, which wouldn't work this season because Philly is going 1-81 this season.

Unless it's a trade to make us more traditional (PG/SG backcourt) which could be a positive for the team.

What shooting guards are available that are better than Bled or Knight?

As other people already said: trading Bledsoe would be the dumbest thing we can do.

[Barkley_34]

This despair will lead to nothing. Bledsoe with a better company will all star quietly in the coming years. He has played very well. His TOS happen much by the lack of attention of other players, especially the younger ones, last game he was not well, but he has tried to call the responsibility . Patience is the key to success, and we are fans who accustomed to the era of Steve Nash, we should develop.

[JohnWall2]

Trading Bledsoe would be a backwards move. At least moving Knight they can kind of play it as a 'he was acquired as an asset' sort of angle. Bledsoe is McD's boy and trading him would signal a complete change for an already pretty dysfunctional franchise.

Knight + Kieff + Goodwin + CLE 1st for Favors + Hood...who says no? UTA, in my mind

That would be a dream trade but yeah I'd say Utah would say thanks but no thanks. Favors and Hood would be great additions here. If we could get those two in a deal I'd be prepared to sweeten the pot even a little more in necessary. Favors has turned into an elite two way bigman with great athleticism and I think Hood can end up being a very good player in this league as well.

[SkinnyOMiller]

Unless it's a trade to make us more traditional (PG/SG backcourt) which could be a positive for the team.

Wouldn't it be smarter to move Knight? I mean, I really like Knight as a 2 guard, but there aren't many PGs in the league who can guard bigger guys like Bled and play the point or many SGs who can play-make so Knight doesn't have to.

That would probably be the smarter move

I think trading for Knight was a mistake in the first place, giving up a potential Top 5 pick as well as a decent pass-first PG prospect in Ennis for a guy that is more of a one-dimensional shooting guard. After trading for him they had no choice but to sign him going forward.


I'm not a fan of Hornacek's whole 2 PG setup, especially considering that they don't have a single real point guard on the roster. They have guys that can score but not guys that can consistently and effectively distribute the basketball. You have shooters and guys handling the basketball that are prone to turnovers and making sloppy passes, not allowing said shooters to get into a rhythm.


McDonough has done a decent job adding talent, Warren, Booker and Len all look like good pickups, Bledsoe was a nice addition as a two-way player but the Knight trade is looking like his worst move at this point, moving ahead of the Isaiah Thomas debacle. This team is not ready to compete and needs to keep building their talent. I hope they don't make any rash moves in a foolish attempt to try and sneak into the playoffs this year. What they need is balance on the roster. They need to move Morris and find as fair of a deal as they can get for him. They also need to look to move Knight who hasn't been as good of a fit as they had seemingly anticipated.

[lilfishi22]

Wouldn't it be smarter to move Knight? I mean, I really like Knight as a 2 guard, but there aren't many PGs in the league who can guard bigger guys like Bled and play the point or many SGs who can play-make so Knight doesn't have to.

That would probably be the smarter move

I think trading for Knight was a mistake in the first place, giving up a potential Top 5 pick as well as a decent pass-first PG prospect in Ennis for a guy that is more of a one-dimensional shooting guard. After trading for him they had no choice but to sign him going forward.


I'm not a fan of Hornacek's whole 2 PG setup, especially considering that they don't have a single real point guard on the roster. They have guys that can score but not guys that can consistently and effectively distribute the basketball. You have shooters and guys handling the basketball that are prone to turnovers and making sloppy passes, not allowing said shooters to get into a rhythm.


McDonough has done a decent job adding talent, Warren, Booker and Len all look like good pickups, Bledsoe was a nice addition as a two-way player but the Knight trade is looking like his worst move at this point, moving ahead of the Isaiah Thomas debacle. This team is not ready to compete and needs to keep building their talent. I hope they don't make any rash moves in a foolish attempt to try and sneak into the playoffs this year. What they need is balance on the roster. They need to move Morris and find as fair of a deal as they can get for him. They also need to look to move Knight who hasn't been as good of a fit as they had seemingly anticipated.

This is exactly what I've been saying. I didn't like the Knight trade since I liked Ennis and that top 5 pick could've really helped with the rebuilding processing.

I'm not a fan of the dual PG system because I recognised it took a very specific combination of back court players for that to work and it would be difficult to find one that worked as well as Bledsoe/Dragic. So far the Bledsoe/Knight back court hasn't produced wins despite putting up admirable statistical averages.

McD has definitely done a great job of adding talent and his scouting thus far has been pretty good. The issue seems to be the fit of the players. Chandler isn't a great fit since he needs a good passing guard to get him easy buckets and Knight isn't a great fit for reasons I've outlined in other posts.

[AtheJ415]

Is Knight really being utilized like a 2nd PG though? Aside from the occasional pick and roll, he's used like a 2 guard. He plays like a 2 guard. Why would things really be any different if we called it a more traditional system?

[AtheJ415]

This despair will lead to nothing. Bledsoe with a better company will all star quietly in the coming years. He has played very well. His TOS happen much by the lack of attention of other players, especially the younger ones, last game he was not well, but he has tried to call the responsibility . Patience is the key to success, and we are fans who accustomed to the era of Steve Nash, we should develop.

This. I feel like people don't fully understand how hard it is to play offense when you have guys you don't have to pay attention to on the court with you. Bledsoe is an all-star caliber player, at 26, and, most importantly, is a 2 way player. We frequently put our guys in bad scenarios with our rotations by playing them with Tucker and Price, who the defense doesn't pay attention to whatsoever. When Markieff is struggling, that adds another person, and Chandler too, while he understands his offensive limitations and plays smart to minimize their impact, is a guy you only need to worry about at the rim, and accordingly you are essentially putting the other team in helpside position from the jump. 2 way guys make life easier for everyone else on the floor. The only PGs, one way or 2, better than Bledsoe right now, are older than him. That means something.

The same works for defense, where you see elite offensive but awful defensive players get picked on by smart teams (see Harden, Kanter, etc., where the offense runs through whomever they are guarding). Bledsoe and Len are 2 way players. I'm hopeful that Warren, Knight, and Booker can become 2 way players given their youth and physical tools. They don't have to be elite, but must be at least average on both ends. We need the coach to really focus on that area of their development and get them to buy in to become at least average.

[Barkley_34]

This despair will lead to nothing. Bledsoe with a better company will all star quietly in the coming years. He has played very well. His TOS happen much by the lack of attention of other players, especially the younger ones, last game he was not well, but he has tried to call the responsibility . Patience is the key to success, and we are fans who accustomed to the era of Steve Nash, we should develop.

This. I feel like people don't fully understand how hard it is to play offense when you have guys you don't have to pay attention to on the court with you. Bledsoe is an all-star caliber player, at 26, and, most importantly, is a 2 way player. We frequently put our guys in bad scenarios with our rotations by playing them with Tucker and Price, who the defense doesn't pay attention to whatsoever. When Markieff is struggling, that adds another person, and Chandler too, while he understands his offensive limitations and plays smart to minimize their impact, is a guy you only need to worry about at the rim, and accordingly you are essentially putting the other team in helpside position from the jump. 2 way guys make life easier for everyone else on the floor. The only PGs, one way or 2, better than Bledsoe right now, are older than him. That means something.

The same works for defense, where you see elite offensive but awful defensive players get picked on by smart teams (see Harden, Kanter, etc., where the offense runs through whomever they are guarding). Bledsoe and Len are 2 way players. I'm hopeful that Warren, Knight, and Booker can become 2 way players given their youth and physical tools. They don't have to be elite, but must be at least average on both ends. We need the coach to really focus on that area of their development and get them to buy in to become at least average.

Our fan base is impatient. We need to understand that Bledsoe and Knight will never be Steve Nash. Today in the league has no pg near his offensive potential that made everyone around him render to the fullest. We have to think about changes that will strengthen the offensive potential in the post or tanking and try Ben Simmons or Brandon Ingram, ones who got chance to be franchise player this weak draft. Any other plan that will be in the same situation as always: fourteen. pick

[Revived]

That would probably be the smarter move

I think trading for Knight was a mistake in the first place, giving up a potential Top 5 pick as well as a decent pass-first PG prospect in Ennis for a guy that is more of a one-dimensional shooting guard. After trading for him they had no choice but to sign him going forward.


I'm not a fan of Hornacek's whole 2 PG setup, especially considering that they don't have a single real point guard on the roster. They have guys that can score but not guys that can consistently and effectively distribute the basketball. You have shooters and guys handling the basketball that are prone to turnovers and making sloppy passes, not allowing said shooters to get into a rhythm.


McDonough has done a decent job adding talent, Warren, Booker and Len all look like good pickups, Bledsoe was a nice addition as a two-way player but the Knight trade is looking like his worst move at this point, moving ahead of the Isaiah Thomas debacle. This team is not ready to compete and needs to keep building their talent. I hope they don't make any rash moves in a foolish attempt to try and sneak into the playoffs this year. What they need is balance on the roster. They need to move Morris and find as fair of a deal as they can get for him. They also need to look to move Knight who hasn't been as good of a fit as they had seemingly anticipated.

This is exactly what I've been saying. I didn't like the Knight trade since I liked Ennis and that top 5 pick could've really helped with the rebuilding processing.

I'm not a fan of the dual PG system because I recognised it took a very specific combination of back court players for that to work and it would be difficult to find one that worked as well as Bledsoe/Dragic. So far the Bledsoe/Knight back court hasn't produced wins despite putting up admirable statistical averages.

McD has definitely done a great job of adding talent and his scouting thus far has been pretty good. The issue seems to be the fit of the players. Chandler isn't a great fit since he needs a good passing guard to get him easy buckets and Knight isn't a great fit for reasons I've outlined in other posts.

Very well said. I hated the Knight trade as well. I would have been fine trading Dragic and IT and stopping at that instead of trading away our most valued asset that Lakers pick. Knight has always been a player that puts up good numbers but it doesn't contribute much to winning which is why the fans of every team he's been on has hated him and rejoiced when he left despite his young age and potential and all that.

[Leapinlarry22]

Bledsoe's value won't ever be any higher, Bledsoe will never be a good distributer as he doesn't have a feel for the entire court, but he can score with the best of them.

Of course you trade him because you can get a kings ransom, not to just dump him. Could Cleveland be open to a Keif/bledsoe for Love trade?

You don't trade him until that type of deal is on the table. Then, look for a PG who is a good distributer, they are few and far between these days.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

[bwgood77]

Bledsoe's value won't ever be any higher, Bledsoe will never be a good distributer as he doesn't have a feel for the entire court, but he can score with the best of them.

Of course you trade him because you can get a kings ransom, not to just dump him. Could Cleveland be open to a Keif/bledsoe for Love trade?

You don't trade him until that type of deal is on the table. Then, look for a PG who is a good distributer, they are few and far between these days.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

No, they already have a PG and another primary ball handler. I seriously doubt Bledsoe would get us a kings ransom, because most teams have a pg, and a team like NY who could upgrade doesn't really have much for picks to trade, unless they are future picks..like 2018 or beyond.

Perhaps Chicago if we either wanted to take on Rose and could pry Portis and a pick or something, but I don't think that's really worth it either.

[Leapinlarry22]

I'm not against the dual-playmaker backccourt....the problem is that neither of our guys are actually playmakers. You need at least one dude closer to "point guard" on the "point guard-----shooting guard" spectrum if you're playing two combo guards together. Right now we have Bledsoe who is closer to shooting guard, and Knight who IS an undersized shooting guard.

This is exactly right. I don't see Knight as a PG at all, he can play the 2, he might even be best suited as a lethal 6th man. Booker will be a great 2 as well and he has the size, and by the way he probably has a better feel for the court and is a better natural passer than Bledsoe. If you can get a huge return for a guy like Bledsoe now or this coming off season I think you have to look at doing it.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

[Revived]

Trading Bledsoe would be a backwards move. At least moving Knight they can kind of play it as a 'he was acquired as an asset' sort of angle. Bledsoe is McD's boy and trading him would signal a complete change for an already pretty dysfunctional franchise.

Knight + Kieff + Goodwin + CLE 1st for Favors + Hood...who says no? UTA, in my mind

Utah probably wouldn't even trade Hood alone for that package.