5 reasons the Cavaliers should take the Suns’ latest offer for Kyrie Irving

4. Eric Bledsoe provides some different value than Kyrie Irving

Coming off the best season of his career, Bledsoe is ready to enter the next phase of his career. That’s partially why he’s seemed like such a likely trade candidate over the past year out of Phoenix. The Suns don’t yet have a point guard they can count as part of their young core, so Bledsoe still has value to them. But he could have even greater value on a contender like the Cavs, with greater defensive and athletic potential than Irving.

The seven-year veteran posted a Offensive Box Plus-Minus of 3.7 last season, showing the incredible value he had stuffing the Suns’ box score each night. There were few more productive point guards in the league last season than Bledsoe, who averaged 23 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds per game. Though Irving provides value as a shot-maker above and beyond anything Bledsoe has shown, there’s also reason to believe that better teammates might lift Bledsoe to a new level.

On defense, Bledsoe has the athleticism and quickness to close the gap that exists between he and Irving on offense. Though his production waned last year as he took on a larger offensive burden, Bledsoe has proven throughout his career that he can change games on the defensive end. He has averaged over two steals per 36 minutes three times in his career, and can start and finish transition opportunities with solid instincts he has honed over time.

With the additional support provided by a championship roster like Cleveland’s and the more balanced role he’ll have, Bledsoe could be one of the Cavs’ best options to replace Irving.