The New Orleans Pelicans might be getting closer to trading away guard Eric Bledsoe.
Per Bleacher Report, the Pelicans have “generated traction” with the Memphis Grizzlies on a deal that would include swapping New Orleans’ No. 10 overall draft pick for Memphis’ No. 17, in exchange for Memphis taking Bledsoe, 31, off New Orleans’ hands.
The report confirms an earlier ESPN report that New Orleans’ No. 10 pick was up for grabs in any Bledsoe negotiations.
Bledsoe, part of the deal that sent All-Star Jrue Holiday to the Milwaukee Bucks last offseason that culminated in the Bucks winning the NBA championship this summer, had a rough season in New Orleans. The former All-Defensive first-teamer had his worst offensive season in eight years, averaging 12.2 points and 3.8 assists per game.
Meanwhile, Holiday, 31, shot a career-best .392 from 3-point range and .503 from the field for Milwaukee and repeatedly came up big defensively in the NBA Finals.
Freeing up Bledsoe’s salary would allow New Orleans to pursue players like Kyle Lowry or Myles Turner in free agency.
–Field Level Media