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NBA: 7 players with the most to lose in 2014-15

By Bryce Olin

Mar 21, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo (9) drives to the basket against Brooklyn Nets point guard Deron Williams (8) during the first quarter of a game at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 21, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo (9) drives to the basket against Brooklyn Nets point guard Deron Williams (8) during the first quarter of a game at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 30, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe (2) against the Portland Trail Blazers in the first half at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 30, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe (2) against the Portland Trail Blazers in the first half at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

 1. Eric Bledsoe, Phoenix Suns?

I hate ranking Bledsoe as the player who has the most to lose this season, but with his uncertain future and injury issues, Bledsoe has to perform well in 2015. It’s so risky playing for the qualifying offer of $3.7 million; I just don’t see what other option Bledsoe has at this point.

Of course, there’s the possibility of the sign-and-trade, which has been discussed at length since the news broke that Minnesota was going to offer Bledsoe a max contract. The only problem with that deal is that there was no way Minnesota could make that deal work with their current cap situation. At this point, I think I have more to offer Bledsoe than Minnesota does, and I don’t even have any money… Think about that for a second.

Other than that rumor, teams waiting to make a run at Bledsoe are few and far between. Ultimately, I see Bledsoe either taking Phoenix’s four-year, $48 million offer or take the qualifying offer and play this season on the cheap. Either way, Bledsoe should be in Phoenix by the time Oct. 1 rolls around, the day Bledsoe must sign the qualifying offer from Phoenix.

Realistically, I don’t see how sitting out the season helps Bledsoe in his quest to get a max contract. He still wouldn’t have the proof that he can stay healthy, and he would miss an entire year of basketball. Even Michael Jordan said it was difficult coming back and playing after taking so much time off, and he was the best player to ever play.

Season G MP FG FGA FG% 3P% TRB AST STL PTS
2010-11 81 22.7 2.5 6.0 .424 .276 2.8 3.6 1.1 6.7
2011-12 40 11.6 1.2 3.2 .389 .200 1.6 1.7 0.8 3.3
2012-13 76 20.4 3.3 7.5 .445 .397 3.0 3.1 1.4 8.5
2013-14 43 32.9 6.2 12.9 .477 .357 4.7 5.5 1.6 17.7
Career 240 22.0 3.2 7.2 .445 .327 3.0 3.4 1.3 8.7

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 9/22/2014.

In his first four seasons, Bledsoe has missed 89 games. If he takes the qualifying offer and plays, he risks an even lesser deal than what the Suns are offering him now.If he had any agent at all, Bledsoe would have taken the deal and would be gearing up for the season.

Instead, he’s possibly going to miss out on an extra $10-20 million on his next deal. If his knees act up again this season, I don’t see anyone offering Bledsoe more than $7 million per season. That’s a lot of money to gamble on yourself, and Bledsoe can thank Rich Paul for this whole mess.

This pretty much sums up this summer for Bledsoe:

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