The New York Knicks are reportedly interested in trading for Phoenix Suns point guard Eric Bledsoe. What would the pros and cons of such a move be?
The pursuit of a veteran point guard is beginning to heat up. The New York Knicks have been actively pursuing free agents for roughly two weeks, but a sense of urgency is developing in the front office.
As the Knicks peruse the open market, it appears as though general manager Steve Mills has set his sights on a borderline All-Star.
As has been reported ad nauseam this offseason, New York is looking for a veteran point guard to pair with Frank Ntilikina. With free agency yielding debatable results, New York is turning its attention to the trading block.
According to Marc Berman of The New York Post, New York has inquired about the availability of Phoenix Suns point guard Eric Bledsoe.
"A source told The Post the Knicks inquired about Suns point guard Eric Bledsoe, whom Jeff Hornacek coached in Phoenix. Bledsoe is 27 with two years and $29 million left on his pact."
Bledsoe has yet to make an All-Star Game appearance, but he’s widely regarded as one of the best players in the NBA without that honor on his résumé.
Bledsoe, 27, is coming off of the most productive season of his seven-year NBA career. He set career-highs in points (21.1), assists (6.2), and 3-point field goals made (1.6) per game, and added 4.8 rebounds and 1.4 steals per contest to his tremendous tally.
The question: Beyond the season averages, would it be worth it for the New York Knicks to trade for Eric Bledsoe?
Pro: Driving Ability
Say what you will about Derrick Rose, but he was the only player on the 2016-17 New York Knicks who could consistently get to the basket. Even Carmelo Anthony shot below the league average in the restricted area, while Kristaps Porzingis is still somewhat perimeter-oriented.
With the primary knock against Frank Ntilikina being that he struggles to turn the corner, adding an elite slasher would be a wise move.
Eric Bledsoe checks that box when discussing both volume and efficiency; it’s partially why he’s received the nickname of mini-LeBron. When Bledsoe is on the drive, there are few who dare—or can—stay in front of his powerful frame.
In 2016-17, Bledsoe put that ability to great use by ranking No. 11 in the NBA in points via drives per game at 7.0 on 53.4 percent shooting.
Bledsoe’s field goal percentage on drives was higher than all but three of the other 10 players in the NBA who averaged at least 7.0 points via drives per game. The only exceptions were LeBron James (62.4), DeMar DeRozan (54.9), and James Harden (54.8).
If Jeff Hornacek were to utilize Bledsoe’s driving ability in a similar manner to how he coached Rose, New York would have an efficient form of offensive execution.
Con: Injury History
If we’re strictly discussing what happens when Eric Bledsoe is active and available, he has a case to make for being one of the Top 10 point guards in the NBA. He may fall just outside of that class, but he’s as well-rounded a point guard as almost any in the Association.
What the New York Knicks will need to take into consideration, however, is the fact that Bledsoe has experienced trouble remaining active and available.
Bledsoe missed 39 games in 2013-14, and was sidelined for 51 games in 2015-16. Although the working theory is that his 16-game absence in 2016-17 was a part of the Phoenix Suns’ tank job, but it’s still worth noting that he missed time.
Unfortunately, Bledsoe’s extended periods of absence can be linked to the multiple knee injuries and surgeries that he endured.
In 2013-14, he was diagnosed with a torn right meniscus that required surgery. Two seasons later, he suffered a torn left meniscus that kept him out for most of the 2015-16 campaign.
Although his 2016-17 absence was debatable in its validity, the team’s public reason was knee soreness.
Torn meniscuses can be overcome, and Bledsoe proved as much in 2016-17, but his knees will need to be monitored.
Pro: Offensive Versatility
Eric Bledsoe’s ability to drive the lane has been acknowledged, but it’s not the only aspect of his game that makes him special. On the offensive end of the floor, Bledsoe has developed into one of the most well-rounded point guards in the NBA.
With the right surroundings, Bledsoe could be a more athletic version of Kyle Lowry for the New York Knicks—a statement made with Lowry’s star status in mind.
Bledsoe has career averages of 17.4 points, 6.1 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 1.1 offensive rebounds, and 1.1 3-point field goals made per game. Those numbers display his unique ability to drive the lane, facilitate, space the floor, and crash the offensive glass at average to above-average levels.
With an elite skill in his proficiency on the drive, Bledsoe’s ability to contribute solid numbers in virtually every other area is undeniably appealing.
Beyond the numbers, Bledsoe has the ability to work the pick and roll, push the pace in transition, and work without the ball. That combination of traits would be welcome in any system, namely one that Bledsoe has already successfully played in—a point that will be discussed.
The Knicks have a desperate need for quality production at the point guard position, and Bledsoe would provide it in spades.
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.
Pro: Recreating Jeff Hornacek’s Winning Formula
The obvious cloud hanging over any trade for Eric Bledsoe is that Frank Ntilikina is the future at point guard. Thus, it could be stated that Bledsoe would be brought in to serve a short-term purpose during the prime of his career.
Thankfully, the New York Knicks have a head coach who has experience working with starting multiple point guards.
In 2013-14 and 2014-15, Hornacek coached Bledsoe and Goran Dragic to resounding success. Phoenix finished the 2013-14 campaign at 48-34, and got off to a 29-25 start before Dragic was unceremoniously traded at the 2015 deadline.
In other words: Hornacek not only coached Bledsoe, but helped he and a fellow point guard achieve a significant measure of team success in a deep Western Conference.
In New York, Bledsoe and Ntilikina would have the potential to excel under coach Hornacek. Ntilikina’s offensive skill set is comparable to that of Goran Dragic, and the defensive potential of he and Bledsoe would be even greater.
Not many point guards would be able to fit as well with Ntilikina in Hornacek’s offense as one who has already won in the system. Bledsoe makes sense.
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The question is: Should the New York Knicks execute a trade for Eric Bledsoe? Hit the comments section and let us know!