Bledsoe is gonna be a coup for somebody.
Kid can play. Been getting suffocated out there in Phoenix.
And this is where I expect Cleveland to once again makes a mockery of the NBA salary cap system by sending the Brooklyn pick + JR Smith's $13.8M contract to Phoenix for Bledsoe...
Bledsoe would well and truly be a game changer for Cleveland - he'd give them a much needed boost to their defence and outside shooting and would allow them to play like a legit contender until IT returns from injury. We already know JR Smith is whining about coming off the bench, so it would make sense for Cleveland to shed that "problem" from the locker room.
The whole deal just makes too much sense for both teams. Though JR Smith's contract probably doesn't do much for Phoenix, they would likely be salivating over that Brooklyn pick.
It would also give Cleveland major insurance in the potential scenarios of:
1. Thomas failing to come back 100% - they could bring him off the bench in restricted minutes
2. Thomas wanting more money then they are wiling to pay - they could let go and move forward with Bledsoe
Waiting for it...
The Cavs have several options that could work. Frye/Korver/pick/filler. Tristan Kardashian, straight up. Doubt they move JR.
He has been very vocal in complaining about his reduced role, since Wade took his starting spot. Not sure how much truth there is to the rumours, but apparently he considers himself a big part of those past finals runs, and was felt insulted and stabbed in the back when he found out he would be demoted to bench duty.
Given JR Smith is a well known head-case, I wouldn't be surprised at all if it escalates into a serious locker room problem as the season goes on. Thompson is also apparently less then pleased about being replaced by Crowder in the starting 5, and I'm very curious how the PG situation is gong to play out in that regard once Isaiah comes back - will either IT4 or Rose be able to put their ego aside and accept playing 20-25 minutes off the bench?
I'm just waiting, hoping this Cleveland situation implodes in a huge way. They have seemingly had enough issues in the past with lockerroom stuff, can only see it worse this year.