The Milwaukee Bucks are reportedly among the teams interested in trading for want-away Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe, according to Marc Stein of The New York Times.
It’s been an eventful 24 hours for Eric Bledsoe and the Phoenix Suns, and if reports are to be believed, that could also lead to a busy time for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Earl Watson was fired as the Suns’ head coach on Sunday evening, and it seems as if Phoenix’s star guard could be set to follow him in leaving the franchise.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Suns had started fielding offers for Bledsoe, and in a later report, Chris Haynes, also of ESPN shed more light on interest in Bledsoe from around the league.
Now, Marc Stein of The New York Times reports that the Milwaukee Bucks are one of the teams who have expressed interest in making a deal for Bledsoe.
The Bucks are a team that has expressed interest in trading for Eric Bledsoe, according to league sources
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) October 23, 2017
This will be largely unsurprising to most Bucks fans as they have regularly been linked to Bledsoe in recent years.
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As recently as October 13, ESPN’s Zach Lowe even mentioned the Bucks while predicting Bledsoe would be traded this season. Speaking of Bledsoe, Lowe noted.
"“The Bucks have a long-standing jones for him, but it’s unclear how they would match salaries.”"
In truth, the Bucks have plenty of players who could make up the main piece of a package to match Bledsoe’s salary. Instead, it’ll be more of a question of whether the Bucks can offer a deal that will meet Phoenix’s desires for a trade.
Bledsoe stoked the fires of a potential trade with a very, very thinly veiled tweet on Sunday, and in the time since Phoenix Suns general manager Ryan McDonough has made it clear that the team wants to move on from Bledsoe as a result.
I Dont wanna be here
— Eric Bledsoe (@EBled2) October 22, 2017
McDonough RE: Bledsoe's tweet: "He said he was at a hair salon... I didn't believe that to be true. He won't be with us going forward."
— ABC15 Sports (@abc15sports) October 23, 2017
Haynes further detailed the breakdown in the relationship between player and team by saying:
"“Sources said Bledsoe has voiced his frustration with the direction of the team. He covets to be in a winning situation. The organization, sources said, argues that the team hasn’t improved since Bledsoe took over the bulk of the playmaking duties.”"
That report also states that McDonough is “actively engaged” in trade talks, meaning that a deal may be concluded sooner rather than later.
Ian Begley of ESPN has also reported the New York Knicks as an interested party, while Michael Scotto of Basketball Insiders has shared details on the Denver Nuggets’ interest too.
The Knicks are among the teams who have reached out to Phoenix recently about trading for guard Eric Bledsoe, per league sources. https://t.co/INmuthUPc6
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) October 23, 2017
Suns and Nuggets have discussed a trade of Eric Bledsoe for Emmanuel Mudiay and other pieces, league sources told @BBallInsiders.
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) October 23, 2017
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The question for the Bucks is whether they’re willing to part with future assets or pieces currently proven to be value in any potential Bledsoe deal. Although the Suns certainly haven’t done anything to give themselves leverage in the situation, a bidding war could certainly lead to the price rising significantly.