The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly working on a sign-and-trade deal for restricted free-agent guard Eric Bledsoe, a league source reported on Wednesday.
The Lakers' pursuit of Bledsoe took another notch following reports by Arizona Sports broadcaster Jon Bloom about a trade that would send Julius Randle, Jordan Hill and a first-rounder to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for the 24-year old Bledsoe.
"My source in L.A. is pushing Lakers to offer Julius Randle, Jordan Hill & 1st Rd Pick from Lin deal in sign & trade for Bledsoe," Bloom stated on his Twitter account.
The Suns have been trying to lock in Bledsoe but the player's camp demand a longer and more lucrative contract. The former Kentucky Wildcats playmaker had a breakout year last season after being traded by the
Los Angeles Clippers in a three-team trade with the Milwaukee Bucks. He averaged 17.7 points, 5.5 assists and 1.6 steals despite dealing with knee problems midway into the 2013-14 season.
Reports indicated the Suns' offer is roughly $45 million over four year, but Bledsoe demanded a max contract extension amounting to $80 million over five years - the same contract signed by Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving.
Desperate looking for a young player with All-Star potential, the Lakers are expected to go all in in their pursuit of Bledsoe despite compromising their financial flexibility for the summer of 2015.
"Hearing that Lakers are willing to go close to max for Eric Bledsoe. Kobe loves his game. Suns like Jordan Hill and his tradability next year," Jordan Schultz of The Huffington Post posted on his Twitter account.
Despite Bledsoe's tremendous upside, Bleacher reporter Matt Fitzgerald believed dealing Julius Randle and Jordan Hill would be too much for the guard. The move will gut out the Lakers' already thin frontcourt, who lost Pau Gasol to the Chicago Bulls. Moreover, there isn't much insurance that Bledsoe would pan out will with Bryant in the Lakers backcourt.
"Yes, Bledsoe is a dynamic force at the point and has upside still to determine just how good he can be. But Los Angeles going close to a max deal on him would be a massive risk at the moment-and one that doesn't fit with its needs right now," Fitzgerald stated in his report.
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