Eric Bledsoe rumors: Timberwolves’ to take protection off Suns’ first round pick?
The Minnesota Timberwolves are reportedly making a maximum contract offer to Phoenix Suns’ restricted free agent guard Eric Bledsoe.
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The two may be able to work out a trade but it’s hard to see the Timberwolves giving up some of the young talent they recently required in the Kevin Love trade (Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett).
One interesting note is the Suns have a protected first round pick of the Timberwolves.
According to Brain Winhorst of ESPN.com the Timberwolves could reduce or take off the protection on the pick in order to acquire Bledsoe.
Suns own Wolves 2015 first round pick but it's top 12 protected. Removing or reducing protection could be part of Bledsoe talks.
— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) September 19, 2014
Adding Bledsoe to their young core could be a great move for the Timberwolves and would certainly make them fun to watch. However, the Suns have acquired plenty of young players and need veteran if they plan on making the postseason.
Bledsoe averaged 17.7 points, 5.5 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 47.7% from the field, 35.7% from beyond the arc and 77.2% from the free throw line last season. In his four-year NBA career, the 18th-overall pick in the first round of the 2010 NBA draft, has averaged 8.7 points, 3.4 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 44.5% from the floor, 32.7% from three and 75.8% from the charity stripe.
Be sure to check FanSided’s official NBA page to keep up to date on the latest news and rumors from around the league as we get you ready for the start of the 2014-2015 season.
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