ESPN Rumor: Bledsoe for Millsap

[Inigo Montoya]

make of it what you will.

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/8956469/los-angeles-clippers-utah-jazz-talk-eric-bledsoe-paul-millsap-sources-say

[RiversideClips]

I hope not for the Clippers sake.

I have no problems w/ the Clips trading Bled to the Jazz, but I would want to include Butler or Dj & get Hayward & Jefferson (not Milsap) back from the Jazz.

[HolyToledo12]

I would assume if deal done than LAC would want to clear out salary for next year so they can sign dwght Howard to play with Paul.

Jazz trade Big AL, Millsap, Watson for Jordan, Bledsoe, butler, and Odom

Jazz get their PG and Jrdan/Butler starters for LAC who come off the Jazz bench and allows Favors to start. Not sure I do it bc I don't want Jordans contract. Does Jordan want to come off the bench? The Jazz and I would prefer a smaller deal getting Bledsoe/butler for Millsap. I doubt LAC do that deal.

LAC love this deal! Make a playoff run with Big AL and Millsap helping plus get cap flexability I off season to sign Dwight Howard or maybe even Big A back.

[AingesBurner]

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine/?tradeId=bgv54bd

Not a lot of cap flex for the summer but you guys could trade Jordan to a cellar dwellar (Bobcats maybe) for their pick

[Inigo Montoya]

i like how the essence of the story changes from site to site, even though the story itself is originating from one source.

the ESPN article just says there is a "level of mutual interest" between the jazz and the clippers, which means absolutely nothing except what everybody everywhere already knows - the jazz would like to get something from millsap IF they decide to move him instead of letting him expire, and that the clippers would like to cash in on bledsoe IF they think CP3 is staying. it still doesn't mean that there were actual discussions going on, the writer just assumes it based on the position of the two teams, much like that sheridan story about big al to the spurs which was based on pretty much nothing.

the headline on realgm.com though, is "Clippers, Jazz Discussing Bledsoe For Millsap Deal". the source? the same ESPN article...

[Ikeizm]

I'm not really as impressed with bledso as others. I'd rather trade milsap for a better pick and snag a pg or 2 in the draft. Trey Burke, and Myke Kobongo would do it.

[zronv7]

no good pg's in the draft, this is an opportunity to get the final piece to the roster

[countrybama24]

Make it happen, take on Denandre if it lets us keep our picks.

[Inigo Montoya]

I'm not really as impressed with bledso as others. I'd rather trade milsap for a better pick and snag a pg or 2 in the draft. Trey Burke, and Myke Kobongo would do it.

i'm with you on that one. not a big bledsoe fan either. but i don't think we're getting draft picks for millsap. i'd rather get a PG from the draft too, but not kabongo. i'm not high on him at all. burke to me is a question mark at the NBA level.

no good pg's in the draft, this is an opportunity to get the final piece to the roster

actually there is a good selection: smart, MCW, cj mccollum, burke, wolters, kabongo, canaan, brown, pressey, ray mccollum and more.

i'd really hate it if bledsoe is the "final piece to the roster". he is a good player, but not a good POINT GUARD, which is what this team needs.

[KDBG]

i like how the essence of the story changes from site to site, even though the story itself is originating from one source.

the ESPN article just says there is a "level of mutual interest" between the jazz and the clippers, which means absolutely nothing except what everybody everywhere already knows - the jazz would like to get something from millsap IF they decide to move him instead of letting him expire, and that the clippers would like to cash in on bledsoe IF they think CP3 is staying. it still doesn't mean that there were actual discussions going on, the writer just assumes it based on the position of the two teams, much like that sheridan story about big al to the spurs which was based on pretty much nothing.

the headline on realgm.com though, is "Clippers, Jazz Discussing Bledsoe For Millsap Deal". the source? the same ESPN article...

Not quite. The Sheridan article about Big Al was straight up pure speculation. I never thought that it was legit at all. Just Sheridan talking out of his a$$, trying to get some traffic to his own website.

The difference with the Bledsoe/Millsap rumor, the Stein article states that they've actually talked, or at least let their mutual interest be known to each other somehow. You know a rumor at least has some kind of legs when it's one of the top headlines on the front page of ESPN, like the Bledsoe/Millsap rumor is now. Yes, it doesn't sound like this is even close to a done deal, but I have a strong feeling it's legit. Especially right after the rumors of Boston and LAC talking Garnett/Bledsoe trade.

As far as my opinion on this trade, it seems like common sense that we'd have discussions with LAC. We're looking for a young PG, and they are looking for one last piece to push them into the championship picture. I really like this trade for the Jazz. Not a "true" point guard, but you can't underestimate the other things he brings to the table like defense, excitement, and energy. And although small sample size, his PER is pretty damn good.

[Inigo Montoya]

i wonder who will make a basket if he have a bledsoe\burks\hayward\favors\kanter lineup. this group looks a bit offensively challenged, especially from long range, and very turnover prone - a problem that bledsoe only compounds. i'd rather take my chances in the draft.

anyway, both the spurs and clippers rumors look completely speculative to me and i hope i'm right because i don't like either.

[FJS]

I'm not a big Bledsoe fan...

[pickIBL]

i wonder who will make a basket if he have a bledsoe\burks\hayward\favors\kanter lineup. this group looks a bit offensively challenged, especially from long range, and very turnover prone - a problem that bledsoe only compounds. i'd rather take my chances in the draft.

anyway, both the spurs and clippers rumors look completely speculative to me and i hope i'm right because i don't like either.

Realistically you wouldn't see that lineup on the floor. You can debate if he's the right PG for the Jazz but you'd definitely be getting something of value (at least in the opinion of many around the league) for an expiring.

[Paper Face]

Just a smokescreen by the Clips so they can pressure KG into waiving his no-trade clause.

KOC and Lindsey didn't leak this. It comes out of LA, or out of thin air. Their target is Garnett.

[countrybama24]

I think he'd pair well with burks. They wouldn't be the best three point shooting guard combo in the league, but both are around 35% with room to improve. Burks could initiate the offense and Bledose will play elite defense, make plays in transition and slash to the rim.

Just stop worrying so much about offense and try and put a team together than can actually get stops.

[seejaydeja]

Whens the last time jazz actually pulled off a 'rumored deal' days before the deadline? Never, that I can remember. If jazz do something, we'll know when it happens, or very soon before. even though the prospect of having bledsoe is very intriguing for jazz fans, i dont see this happening.

[Inigo Montoya]

i wonder who will make a basket if he have a bledsoe\burks\hayward\favors\kanter lineup. this group looks a bit offensively challenged, especially from long range, and very turnover prone - a problem that bledsoe only compounds. i'd rather take my chances in the draft.

anyway, both the spurs and clippers rumors look completely speculative to me and i hope i'm right because i don't like either.

Realistically you wouldn't see that lineup on the floor. You can debate if he's the right PG for the Jazz but you'd definitely be getting something of value (at least in the opinion of many around the league) for an expiring.

well, if that's your future core, i assume at some point these guys will get to play together. if big al stays, i don't like the idea of bledsoe waiting on the 3pt line...
bledsoe has value, but for how long? much of his value stems from still being on rookie deal which is about to end. he'll be much less attractive once he'll get a bigger contract. right now people are enamored with his potential - what he can do as a starting PG. well, he may prove to not be a very good PG. the clippers' record when CP3 was injured should set off some alarms, since bledsoe was surrounded with talent and the clippers were still deep.

Just a smokescreen by the Clips so they can pressure KG into waiving his no-trade clause.

KOC and Lindsey didn't leak this. It comes out of LA, or out of thin air. Their target is Garnett.

how is that pressuring KG? he doesn't seem to be pressured or willing to go to LA:

http://www.hoopsworld.com/kevin-garnett-wont-waive-no-trade-clause/

[KDBG]

Whens the last time jazz actually pulled off a 'rumored deal' days before the deadline? Never, that I can remember. If jazz do something, we'll know when it happens, or very soon before. even though the prospect of having bledsoe is very intriguing for jazz fans, i dont see this happening.

The Brewer to Memphis deal. From what I remember, it was about a week before that it leaked.

[KDBG]

I think he'd pair well with burks. They wouldn't be the best three point shooting guard combo in the league, but both are around 35% with room to improve. Burks could initiate the offense and Bledose will play elite defense, make plays in transition and slash to the rim.

Just stop worrying so much about offense and try and put a team together than can actually get stops.

This. In my opinion, our offense would be fine. All five of those young players have good scoring ability. It's the defense that Bledsoe brings that seems to be so undervalued by some people. Imagine Bledsoe locking down the perimeter, while Favors anchors the D down low. That's a great foundation for a future top 10 defensive squad.

[Neon Black]

I'm with you, Inigo, on not putting too much trust in this rumor, though there seems to be a little more to it than the Phoenix scenario.

As for Bledsoe, I'm gradually becoming a convert. He's shown he can score and dime when given minutes, and he does so efficiently. He athletic and strong, and assists on 25% of the Clipper's baskets when he plays. I think that he, Burks and Hayward could run the offense just fine.

Plus, what does it hurt? Millsap is probably gone anyway, and I frankly don't see a deal better than this. We don't have a great shot at Marcus Smart or Carter-Williams, frankly, and Trey Burke probably won't be elite in the NBA. If Bledsoe doesn't pan out, we can still select a young PG in the draft - in a couple years we'll have a valuable trade asset and a PG that can possibly take over starting duties. It's a very low-risk scenario, imo.