The New York Knicks and the Phoenix Suns reportedly engaged in a trade talk involving Eric Bledsoe and this year's no.4 overall pick, Sean Deveney of Sporting News disclosed on Wednesday.
The Knicks have been trying to move their lottery pick after slipping down to no.4 in the draft lottery. Initial reports indicated the Knicks' intention to move down in the draft in attempt of salvaging an established player and another pick, but in the past few days they started leaning on using their pick for D'Angelo Russell or Latvian mystery man Kristaps Porzingis.
However, in last week's chat session on Sports Nation, ESPN NBA insider Chad Ford insinuated a proposed deal in which the Suns would send Eric Bledsoe and the 13th pick to the Knicks in exchange for no.4 overall.
Ford agreed that the Suns favor trade deadline acquisition Brandon Knight as their starting point guard next season over Eric Bledsoe, whom they signed for a contract worth $70 million over five years, and he believed that is pushing GM Ryan McDonough to shop the former Kentucky Wildcats star.
Deveney's report has somewhat validated Ford's claim of a potential deal between the Knicks and the Suns, although it's uncertain whether they gained something from their exploratory trade talks.
"The Suns had talks with the Knicks about dealing the fourth pick for point guard Eric Bledsoe and the No. 13 pick, but Phoenix has not been limited to the Knicks in that regard. The Suns have been dangling Bledsoe in trade offers this offseason and are likely to continue to do so after the draft if Bledsoe is not moved this week, sources confirmed," according to Deveney.
Upgrading the point guard spot is one of Phil Jackson’s priorities this offseason, as he looks to guide the Knicks back to the playoffs for the first time since he assumed the role as the team's president for basketball operations.
Bledsoe, who averaged 17.0 points, 6.1 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game last season with the Suns, is considered one of the best two-way point guards in the league, but several NBA analysts feared that he might not be a good fit for the triangle offense because of his sub-par career 3-pt percentage (33 percent from beyond the arc) and also he’s another ball-dominant player.
However, there’s more upside in trading for a proven player like Bledsoe than waiting for whatever prospect they get at no.4 to develop. Moreover, the inclusion of the 13th pick in the Suns’ trade package would mean the Knicks can still add a solid youngster such as Frank Kaminsky, Trey Lyles and Willie Cauley-Stein, who are projected to be available at no.13 per the latest Mock Draft.