WT: Paul Admits Clippers Can't Afford To Keep Bledsoe

Post #1 » by **og15** » Sun Apr 21, 2013 9:38 pm

Eric Bledsoe had 15 points and six rebounds in just 18 minutes on Saturday when the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 1. The 23-year-old guard shot seven of seven overall and helped the Clippers pull away in the fourth quarter.

Chris Paul is a free agent at season's end but is sounding more and more positive about re-signing with the Clippers. Even so, Paul knows the Clippers will have a difficult time keeping Bledsoe long-term -- much less past this season.

"There’s no way he can be here next year because we probably won’t have enough money to pay him," Paul said.

Bledoe has one season left on his contract.

"He should be a starting point guard in this league next year," Paul said of Bledsoe.

What are people's thoughts on this? I remember Paul saying when he was being traded that he follows the salary cap and teams salary situations, etc, so he's not a player that is oblivious to what teams are capable of doing and what is necessary.

At the least, this lets us know that Paul wouldn't be mad at the team for trading Bledsoe, but also in saying "we" can't afford, it hints at what we all basically know, which is that he will be back next season unless something crazy happens.

The only way to keep Bledsoe is to commit to starting a Paul/Bledsoe backcourt. Outside of that, you just can't pay him what he will receive from other teams to come off the bench as only the backup PG. If he was coming off the bench as a 6th man backup PG/SG, you could, but Jamal has taken that role.

Nutella · Post #2 » by **Nutella** » Sun Apr 21, 2013 10:00 pm

I wouldn't mind committing to a Paul/Bledsoe backcourt, but what exactly would we have to sacrifice? He'd have to really work on his 3pt shooting.

If we have to trade him though I would like some sort of 3 team deal that would have Bledsoe and Jordan going out and Anderson Varejao / good wing defender coming in.

mike3 · Post #3 » by **mike3** » Sun Apr 21, 2013 11:12 pm

I love Bledsoe, I'd be ok with committing to the small backcourt, it'd be deadly on the offensive end but as you mentioned, he'd really have to work on his spot up shooting.

I think it depends where Chauncey is at as well, will he start next year? will he even play? Not sure.

It's gonna be sad to see Bled go though, most likely. I hope we get something good in return. I'd still like to keep him.

Post #4 » by **mkwest** » Sun Apr 21, 2013 11:52 pm

Bledsoe reminds me of the story about the King wanting something that would make him happy when was sad and sad when he was happy. The wise men gave him a ring that said "this too shall pass".

I'm happy for the progress that Bledsoe has made and the impact he makes on the court, but then get sad knowing that it is improbable that we keep him long-term.

If we do end up moving him, I hope that it's to an eastern conference team. I'd hate to see him on some Western Conference team with cap space in 2014 :thinking:

Nutella wrote:If we have to trade him though I would like some sort of 3 team deal that would have Bledsoe and Jordan going out and Anderson Varejao / good wing defender coming in.

I like Varejao, but this guy is too injury prone. He's 30 years old and has only played 81 games over the last 3 seasons combined. One thing that DJ does have going for him is that he doesn't miss games (only 2 in the last 3 seasons).

mike3 wrote:I think it depends where Chauncey is at as well, will he start next year? will he even play? Not sure.

He says that he has no plans to retire after this season.

mttwlsn16 · Post #5 » by **mttwlsn16** » Sun Apr 21, 2013 11:56 pm

sucks, bc i love bled and his energy and bounce, but i think it was a given he will be traded. better to unload him and get a good return than let him hit FA and lose him for nothing tho. ill enjoy him while hes here beasting tho, thats for sure

Fido · Post #6 » by **Fido** » Mon Apr 22, 2013 3:25 am

Utah would love to make him their starting PG. Of course trading him this year is a challenge because he is a good player but whoever takes him is going to have to pay big $$$ for his extension.

madmaxmedia · Post #7 » by **madmaxmedia** » Mon Apr 22, 2013 9:20 pm

As much as I like him, he's not good for a 2-guard for us.

I think we all knew early this season with his progress that we hopefully wouldn't be keeping him long-term, and by 'hopefully' only because that would mean we've extended CP3.

We will get some good assets in return. He is a great young player and a fantastic draft pick, and the time here will have served both him and LA well.

TheNewEra · Post #8 » by **TheNewEra** » Mon Apr 22, 2013 10:24 pm

If only he was taller and had more consistency in his shoot I think Sterling would of found a way to keep him. With that we need to look to get the best possible return back would love to get a SG prospect to start back with a pick or another role player. Would take a high pick plus a bench big if given.

Neddy · Post #9 » by **Neddy** » Mon Apr 22, 2013 10:33 pm

TheNewEra wrote:If only he was taller and had more consistency in his shoot I think Sterling would of found a way to keep him. With that we need to look to get the best possible return back would love to get a SG prospect to start back with a pick or another role player. Would take a high pick plus a bench big if given.

you mean like how the donald found a way to keep ron harper, terry dehere, malik sealy, and brent berry's of the past? those taller, better shooters sterling used to love to keep around?

sorry feeling sarcastic today and couldn't resist replying to those contradicting words of "sterling" and "found a way to keep a player" statement. :lol:

Post #10 » by **QRich3** » Tue Apr 23, 2013 11:19 am

It's gonna be sad to see him go, he's been one of my favorites the last couple of years, and I have confidence that he'll explode into a high impact player if he's traded into the right fit. But it's inevitable that he'll leave us sometime, so we should try to get as much value for him as possible. This Memphis series should be perfect to showcase him, he should be seeing a lot more minutes next to Paul than he is right now, that pair matches up very well against Memphis' backcourt.

Hopefully we can get a young talented wing that can grow with Blake and Deandre. Something like MKG, whose value seems to have dropped a bit, would be perfect, but I don't think Charlotte needs Bledsoe, or that the value is there still. Maybe if we pair him with our pick we can get something they value from a third team. Or package him with Butler's expiring and Grant Hill's about-to-retire contract and bring back EJ!! (I know, I know, I'm starting to be annoying with this =P)

madmaxmedia · Post #11 » by **madmaxmedia** » Tue Apr 23, 2013 6:16 pm

I dont' think we can afford to trade for EJ, or any high-priced vet.

I think it will be more likely we trade for youth or a draft pick/package (draft pick makes sense IF there is someone we are targeting with that pick.)

I love EB as our backup and as an energy guy, but I wonder what his upside will be as a NBA starting PG. I think we will get a good return for him, he is awesome in his current role on the Clips.

Post #12 » by **QRich3** » Tue Apr 23, 2013 6:53 pm

I think now is as good a moment as any other to big up Neil Oshley and his relentless refusal to include Bledsoe in the CP3 deal, even if it meant the deal was falling apart

madmaxmedia · Post #13 » by **madmaxmedia** » Tue Apr 23, 2013 10:32 pm

And for drafting him in the first place!

"I watch their games almost as closely as I watch Portland's," said Olshey, whose team will play host to the Clippers on Thursday, "because I really have a great affinity for Blake and DeAndre, who I drafted, and Eric Bledsoe, who is in the draft my proudest moment."

mj_shoefanatic · Post #14 » by **mj_shoefanatic** » Tue Apr 23, 2013 11:45 pm

That would be crazy if Bledsoe ended up in Portland or the team across the hall. :ouch:

scoobs07 · Post #15 » by **scoobs07** » Wed Apr 24, 2013 12:12 am

Clippers should trade Bled to Sacramento for the 6th pick (projected) and draft this guy...

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Sha ... mmad-6270/

Post #16 » by **og15** » Wed Apr 24, 2013 10:15 pm

mj_shoefanatic wrote:That would be crazy if Bledsoe ended up in Portland or the team across the hall.

Portland has Lillard, and Lakers don't have anything the Clippers would want and that they would actually want to trade, so those are some of the furthest options. Portland was an option last season before they drafted a PG.

TheNewEra · Post #17 » by **TheNewEra** » Thu Apr 25, 2013 2:40 am

He would be nice in Orlando but doubt they give up Harris.

madmaxmedia · Post #18 » by **madmaxmedia** » Thu Apr 25, 2013 5:26 pm

scoobs07 wrote:Clippers should trade Bled to Sacramento for the 6th pick (projected) and draft this guy...

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Sha ... mmad-6270/

I like the idea of a high draft pick, I think Bledsoe is worth it.

Not so sure about Muhammad though. He was one of the more invisible one and dones I've seen, this is coming from a UCLA alum. I feel like he's got little upside in the NBA, kinda like Al Thornton a few years back.

OTOH I don't know the other players slotted around that draft position.

Quake Griffin · Post #19 » by **Quake Griffin** » Thu Apr 25, 2013 8:13 pm

^^^^

oladipo

scoobs07 · Post #20 » by **scoobs07** » Fri Apr 26, 2013 4:29 am

madmaxmedia wrote:
scoobs07 wrote:Clippers should trade Bled to Sacramento for the 6th pick (projected) and draft this guy...

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Sha ... mmad-6270/

I like the idea of a high draft pick, I think Bledsoe is worth it.

Not so sure about Muhammad though. He was one of the more invisible one and dones I've seen, this is coming from a UCLA alum. I feel like he's got little upside in the NBA, kinda like Al Thornton a few years back.

OTOH I don't know the other players slotted around that draft position.

I don't think he was invisible. Didnt you see that hightlight real? We could use somebody like that.