The Case for Trading Eric Bledsoe

bigfoot · Post #1 » by **bigfoot** » Mon Dec 21, 2015 1:31 am

It's more than apparent that the two point guard system isn't working. Where does the problem lie? It seems we can't score in crunch time when half court sets are critical. Who is responsible ... the coach ... possibly, but the majority of the responsibility has to lie with the point guard. The man with the ball in his hands at the end of the game is usually Eric Bledsoe. After two and a half seasons it is pretty clear he can't get it done. He has not meshed with Chandler in the pick-and-roll. He can neither get a good entry pass to a post player nor direct the offense at critical junctures in the game. Lately it seems like the majority of the time he coughs up a turnover.

Eric Bledsoe is ranked 8th worst in assist-to-turnover ratio for all point guards in the league. Put another way his assist-to-turnover ratio is 38 out of 45 points guards. Unfortunately his running mate Brandon Knight is even worse at 44 out of 45 or second worst in the league. Neither of them are pass first point guards and both of them marginal ball handlers. One has obviously has to go. So why trade Bledsoe? Here are some reasons.

1) He has not led the Suns to a winning record. Bledsoe with two full seasons under his belt as starting PG hasn't produced a winning record. Goran was really responsible for a majority of the wins in that magical 2013 season. After trading Dragic last season and with Knight out with an ankle injury Bledsoe helped the Suns finish with a 1-11 record. On the other hand, Knight was leading the Bucks to a playoff berth until the trade. After the trade the Buck fell out of contention. This year they are not even contending in the Eastern Conference.

2) I think we all agree Bledsoe has a low basketball IQ. Certainly Knight has a higher basketball IQ than Bledsoe and Knight has room to grow being two years younger than Bledsoe.

3) Bledsoe will be much easier to trade and will net us more in return. Period.

4) This allows us to go back to a more traditional shooting guard, running either Booker or Tucker or Goodwin at the two spot. We have to remember that Bogdan Boddanovic is waiting in the wings.

A Bledsoe/Kieff should be easy to move and get a pretty high return back.

Saberestar · Post #2 » by **Saberestar** » Mon Dec 21, 2015 1:39 am

I wouldn't trade him. We have too many players to trade before him. Knight is the one that I would trade him in a heartbeat.

AtheJ415 · Post #3 » by **AtheJ415** » Mon Dec 21, 2015 1:40 am

Trading Bledsoe, unless it is for something ungodly valuable in return, is the worst thing we could do imo.

Barkley_34 · Post #4 » by **Barkley_34** » Mon Dec 21, 2015 1:46 am

Trade Bledsoe now would be the worst thing to do. he is our best player, and unfortunately has had little help from other players. Surely we have to make changes, but Bledsoe, Warren and Booker are the only players who in my view should not be traded

bigfoot · Post #5 » by **bigfoot** » Mon Dec 21, 2015 1:55 am

AtheJ415 wrote:Trading Bledsoe, unless it is for something ungodly valuable in return, is the worst thing we could do imo.

Many would have made the same argument when we traded away Larry Nance. You have to give up something valuable to get something in return.

Post #6 » by **lilfishi22** » Mon Dec 21, 2015 2:07 am

Honestly, I think every player outside of Booker, Len and Warren should be available. Those three could be included in certain deals but every else should be available.

AtheJ415 · Post #7 » by **AtheJ415** » Mon Dec 21, 2015 2:09 am

bigfoot wrote:
AtheJ415 wrote:Trading Bledsoe, unless it is for something ungodly valuable in return, is the worst thing we could do imo.

Many would have made the same argument when we traded away Larry Nance. You have to give up something valuable to get something in return.

It needs to be really damn valuable, because Bledsoe is really damn valuable.

Jdiddy701 · Post #8 » by **Jdiddy701** » Mon Dec 21, 2015 2:11 am

Eric Bledsoe is not going anywhere. Free agents would NEVER think about coming here if he gets traded.

Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

MrMiyagi · Post #9 » by **MrMiyagi** » Mon Dec 21, 2015 2:57 am

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.

Post #10 » by **lilfishi22** » Mon Dec 21, 2015 3:08 am

MrMiyagi wrote: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.

Post #11 » by **bwgood77** » Mon Dec 21, 2015 3:13 am

MrMiyagi wrote: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.

I think you forgot we play them this month.

Post #12 » by **bwgood77** » Mon Dec 21, 2015 3:18 am

bigfoot wrote:It's more than apparent that the two point guard system isn't working. Where does the problem lie? It seems we can't score in crunch time when half court sets are critical. Who is responsible ... the coach ... possibly, but the majority of the responsibility has to lie with the point guard. The man with the ball in his hands at the end of the game is usually Eric Bledsoe. After two and a half seasons it is pretty clear he can't get it done. He has not meshed with Chandler in the pick-and-roll. He can neither get a good entry pass to a post player nor direct the offense at critical junctures in the game. Lately it seems like the majority of the time he coughs up a turnover.

Eric Bledsoe is ranked 8th worst in assist-to-turnover ratio for all point guards in the league. Put another way his assist-to-turnover ratio is 38 out of 45 points guards. Unfortunately his running mate Brandon Knight is even worse at 44 out of 45 or second worst in the league. Neither of them are pass first point guards and both of them marginal ball handlers. One has obviously has to go. So why trade Bledsoe? Here are some reasons.

1) He has not led the Suns to a winning record. Bledsoe with two full seasons under his belt as starting PG hasn't produced a winning record. Goran was really responsible for a majority of the wins in that magical 2013 season. After trading Dragic last season and with Knight out with an ankle injury Bledsoe helped the Suns finish with a 1-11 record. On the other hand, Knight was leading the Bucks to a playoff berth until the trade. After the trade the Buck fell out of contention. This year they are not even contending in the Eastern Conference.

2) I think we all agree Bledsoe has a low basketball IQ. Certainly Knight has a higher basketball IQ than Bledsoe and Knight has room to grow being two years younger than Bledsoe.

3) Bledsoe will be much easier to trade and will net us more in return. Period.

4) This allows us to go back to a more traditional shooting guard, running either Booker or Tucker or Goodwin at the two spot. We have to remember that Bogdan Boddanovic is waiting in the wings.

A Bledsoe/Kieff should be easy to move and get a pretty high return back.

Well reasoned post. I don't really want to trade Bledsoe, but you made good points. I don't think Knight has any value right now, but when the contracts get handed out this off season, I think both of their values will rise. Unfortunately most every team has either a good starting pg or one in development. I would hang onto both at least until either the off season or next trade deadline. I don't want to see this team lose, but in all reality, we may end up with the 7th worst record if you look at the standings right now (and we have Cleveland, SA and OKC to finish out the year)...that could probably net us a good player, especially if we can jump to top 3, which isn't THAT improbable.

And everyone saying Hornacek wants the two pg system and McD is catering to that is ridiculous. McD is going to do what he thinks is the right move.....he signed another PG because he wanted to, not because Hornacek told him he needs to run a 2 pg system.

Post #13 » by **rsavaj** » Mon Dec 21, 2015 3:29 am

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.

Post #14 » by **lilfishi22** » Mon Dec 21, 2015 3:41 am

rsavaj wrote: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.

Nashty-Curry back court

Cutter · Post #15 » by **Cutter** » Mon Dec 21, 2015 3:49 am

I thinks it's entirely reasonable to at least look at a Bledsoe-Knight trade. Eric, as starting PG, and one of the top scoring options on the team is not going to get you to the playoffs. We would need to get a major player back to compensate for losing him, but he is certainly tradeable.

MrMiyagi · Post #16 » by **MrMiyagi** » Mon Dec 21, 2015 3:59 am

lilfishi22 wrote:
MrMiyagi wrote: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.

Barkley_34 · Post #17 » by **Barkley_34** » Mon Dec 21, 2015 4:01 am

I think the bledsoe need a BIG to help him not only the score but also to call the attention of the opponent. I imagine a guy like Zach Randolph would be wonderful for him for exemple. I'm sure it would greatly increase the assists him as well. Play alone is difficult.

Post #18 » by **bwgood77** » Mon Dec 21, 2015 4:11 am

MrMiyagi wrote:
lilfishi22 wrote:
MrMiyagi wrote: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.

Yes, but I think Bledsoe has far more value and would net us far more in a trade. I'd rather keep Bledsoe though, all things being equal.

RaisingArizona · Post #19 » by **RaisingArizona** » Mon Dec 21, 2015 4:17 am

I think even contemplating trading Bledsoe is asinine at this stage. I see a lot of issues with our team but Bledsoe isn't one of them.

thamadkant · Post #20 » by **thamadkant** » Mon Dec 21, 2015 4:30 am

I think you have to pick one of Knight or Bledsoe.

Bledsoe is a two way PG, Knight is biased towards offense.

If I had to pick, I trade Knight in a package to get a star player and start Booker, make Goodwin backup (20 minutes) and hope they develop for 2016-2017 season.