Clippers Reportedly Discussing Eric Bledsoe Trade With Bucks and Mavericks

With Chris Paul’s commitment to return having been secured, the LA Clippers can now proceed with the business of shopping highly-coveted backup guard Eric Bledsoe. There have been talks, reportedly, between LA and the Milwaukee Bucks and the Dallas Mavericks (deals which would involve free agents JJ Redick or OJ Mayo.) Per ESPN: “Although sources say that strong signals continue to emanate from new Clippers coach and senior vice president of basketball operations Doc Rivers that he wants to try to keep Bledsoe for another season, sources say that conversations with Milwaukee and Dallas are ‘live,’ which follow the Clippers’ recent talks with both Orlando and Toronto about a Bledsoe deal. The discussions with Dallas, sources said, center on Mayo, whom the Clippers are said to have contacted in the first few hours of NBA free agency Monday. Talks with the Bucks, meanwhile, center on Redick, with one source close to the process saying that a face-to-face meeting between Redick and the Clippers was imminent, perhaps as soon as Monday night. The Clippers, in their previous discussions with Orlando and Toronto, have targeted Magic guard Arron Afflalo and Raptors swingman DeMar DeRozan, although it’s not immediately clear what Toronto’s pending trade of Andrea Bargnani to the New York Knicks does to the Raptors’ ability to stay in the Bledsoe hunt. The Clippers had interest in Bargnani as a potential solution to their lack of floor-spacing shooters. A trade with any of the known suitors would almost certainly have to include other pieces — such as Caron Butler’s expiring contract — because Bledsoe is due to make only $2.63 million next season in the final year of his rookie contract. Bledsoe, a dynamic sparkplug off the bench and outstanding defender, has spent the last two seasons serving as Paul’s apprentice and is widely regarded as being ready for a starting role. The Clippers have acknowledged as much, but it remains to be seen what impact Rivers’ arrival has on their immediate trade plans.”