By Jordan Long
The Phoenix Suns are looking to trade point guard Eric Bledsoe. Bledsoe isn’t happy about the way the season has started with the Suns. The Suns have decided to have him stay home until he is dealt. The Denver Nuggets are a team that is interested in acquiring him.
Bledsoe is in his 8th NBA season. He is averaging 15.7 points, 3 assists, and 2.3 rebounds per game this season. In his career Bledsoe averages 13.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game.
If the Denver Nuggets want to trade for Bledsoe, they would likely give up point guard Emmanuel Mudiay who is in his 3rd season and now a bench player. Denver is better off with Jamal Murray as the starting point guard.
Denver has seen enough in Mudiay to know he is not the future for the Nuggets. Trading him to Phoenix gives him a fresh start. He would be the starting point guard for the Suns.
If Denver makes the trade for Bledsoe, he wouldn’t start. Murray is still the starting point guard. Bledsoe isn’t used to coming off the bench. The previous 5 seasons he has been the starting point guard for the Suns. The last time he wasn’t a regular starter was 2013 when he was with the Los Angeles Clippers. Bledsoe also has more experience then Murray to help this Nuggets team reach the playoffs.
The downside for the Nuggets is Bledsoe’s current deal. He has two years left at $14 million per season. He won’t reach free agency until 2019. That is a lot of money for a point guard.
The Nuggets are better off with their two young point guards in Murray and Mudiay. Both of them know Coach Michael Malones’ system. Bledsoe needs to learn the offense. The Denver Nuggets should only do the deal if they feel he is the difference between them making the playoffs.
How do you feel about the possibility of the Denver Nuggets acquiring Eric Bledsoe?
Leave a Reply