Con: Opportunity Cost
The New York Knicks are in the right to be interested in trading for Eric Bledsoe. What complicates that otherwise understandable desire, however, is the unfortunate reality that New York has a shortage of ideal trade assets.
Thus, the question beckons: Without the ideal assets from a player perspective, would Bledsoe be worth potentially giving up a draft pick for?
The Knicks could package Courtney Lee and Kyle O’Quinn, which would likely be enough to bring the Phoenix Suns to the negotiating table. Lee is a respected veteran who would be great for the young locker room, and O’Quinn is an excellent rebounder and solid passer who fills multiple voids.
Bledsoe could command a better package from other interested parties, however, which would likely force general manager Steve Mills’ hand.
Bledsoe is 27 years of age, is coming off of the best year of his career, and is signed through the 2018-19 season. That’s an intriguing reality, but the question remains: Would it be worth giving up the first-round draft pick that would likely need to be included?
New York has a chance to build something sustainable with the final piece being found in the 2018 NBA Draft, which makes this a difficult decision to make.