Well, those Eric Bledsoe-for-Reggie Jackson rumors certainly didn’t last long.
They started on Thursday afternoon, with The New York Times‘ Marc Stein noting the Detroit Pistons could have interest in striking a deal for Bledsoe:
League sources say Detroit should be added to the list of teams showing interest in Eric Bledsoe, but any deal would surely depend (CONT')
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) November 2, 2017
But any Bledsoe-to-Detroit deal would likely depend on what the Pistons would attach to Reggie Jackson to sell the Suns on doing such a swap
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) November 2, 2017
Soon after that, Basketball Insiders’ Michael Scotto brought word that the Pistons had delivered an official offer to the Suns:
Pistons offered a package including Reggie Jackson and a first-round pick to the Suns for Eric Bledsoe, a league source told @BBallInsiders.
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) November 2, 2017
And yet, shortly after this, Arizona Sports 98.7 FM’s John Gambadoro reported that “there is nothing” to such talks:
There is nothing to the Reggie Jackson to Suns rumors and it is highly unlikely there would be a 3-way trade involving Bledsoe and Jackson
— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) November 2, 2017
And, well, that’s where we’re at now.
The Pistons’ interest in Bledsoe isn’t hard to believe. He’s a slight upgrade over Jackson, who’s playing well this season, and he’s cheaper. But they don’t have the assets or incentive to land him without giving up Jackson. The Suns, conversely, have little reason to absorb the three years, including this one, and $51.1 million left on Jackson’s deal.
Any deal Phoenix makes for Bledsoe should bring back salary-cap relief, prospects and picks. They can take on another bad deal if he means getting an extra sweetener or two, but Jackson and a pick doesn’t qualify.
If there ends up being anything to this framework, it’ll likely include Jackson being rerouted to a third team—an event that can be classified as unlikely at best.
