http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9436953/toronto-raptors-join-talks-eric-bledsoe-los-angeles-clippers By Marc Stein | ESPN.com The Toronto Raptors have joined the Orlando Magic at the head of the list of known suitors for Los Angeles Clippers guard Eric Bledsoe, according to sources close to the process. Sources told ESPN.com that the talks between the Raptors and Clippers are still in the exploratory stage, but the Raptors' interest in L.A.'s prized young point guard is said to be significant. The Raptors have been openly shopping forward Andrea Bargnani for months and would try, sources say, to include Bargnani in any deal for Bledsoe, which wouldn't necessarily dissuade the Clippers, given their longstanding need for a big man who can stretch the floor. But sources add that Toronto guard DeMar DeRozan is the Raptor most likely to tempt the Clippers, which falls in line with L.A.'s interest in Arron Afflalo in their Bledsoe talks with Orlando. Some rival executives believe that the Raptors are prepared to part with DeRozan -- recipient of a $40 million contract extension last October -- in the wake of Rudy Gay's arrival and the front-office change that ushered out Bryan Colangelo (who authorized DeRozan's new deal) and ushered in Masai Ujiri. Magic general manager Rob Henigan acknowledged to local reporters after Thursday night's draft that Orlando "may revisit" trying to trade for Bledsoe. The Detroit Pistons, sources said, have also expressed serious interest in Bledsoe, who is known to be seeking an extension with any new team before the Halloween deadline for his draft class if he's indeed dealt by the Clippers this offseason. The Magic and Clippers have been discussing the possibility of a trade with Afflalo and Bledsoe as the principles for the better part of June. But those talks began before the Clippers' drawn-out hiring of Doc Rivers as their new coach and senior vice president of basketball operations. Rivers' arrival clearly hasn't stopped teams from calling for Bledsoe, but Rivers is a well-known fan of the 23-year-old and has indicated he'd like to keep Bledsoe around if possible. Yet the greater likelihood remains that keeping Bledsoe around as Chris Paul's very capable backup is a luxury that the Clippers won't be able to afford as they continue to try to construct a roster with title-contending staying power. Clippers veteran forward Caron Butler likely would have to be included in any Bledsoe deal to make the salary-cap math work, but sources say the teams have discussed a variety of options. It's been a working assumption in league circles the Clippers would try to trade Bledsoe before next season as soon as they were certain that Paul would re-sign this summer after becoming a free agent on July 1. ESPN.com reported this week that the Clippers are operating under the assumption that the hiring of Rivers has essentially clinched Paul's signature on a new five-year max contract at the earliest permissible date: July 10. Rival teams that thought they would at least get a face-to-face chance to recruit Paul in free agency have likewise abandoned such hopes. The Clippers have also been operating for months under the premise that they'd be forced to entertain trade offers for Bledsoe or risk losing him for nothing as a restricted free agent in the summer of 2014. Paul himself has been vocal about the fact that, in his view, Bledsoe deserves to be the starter elsewhere. Bledsoe has been the focus of trade talks for some time, seemingly since the Clippers fought so hard to keep him out of the trade to bring Paul to L.A. Sources say Orlando is only one of a half-dozen teams pursuing Bledsoe after Boston was rebuffed in its attempts to acquire Bledsoe as an offshoot of the Rivers' negotiations.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>The Raptors and Clippers have discussed a DeMar DeRozan for Eric Bledsoe trade, according to <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine">@ESPNSteinLine</a>: <a href="http://t.co/ADSPoXFzDN">http://t.co/ADSPoXFzDN</a></p>— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexKennedyNBA/statuses/351080373616246785">June 29, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
See, that dude is not an insider by any means. He just gets his sources from other legit insiders like Woj & Stein. Hoopsworld blows.
Would fit in nicely with that Raps team, but I think the right team is the Detroit Pistons. Drummond Monroe Singler / Butler / Jerebko Knight Bledsoe
Blesdoe and Lowry pretty much play the same style right. I think this is a bad trade for the Raptors. DeRozan actually just had a decent season. He's the same age as Blesdoe. Blesdoe really hasn't proved much. Remember when the Clippers went on that big losing streak after Chris Paul went down and Blesdoe took his place during the regular season. He has potential but he's too highly coveted. Him for Affallo is a fairer trade.
Idiot franchise... 1. Lowry 2. Derozan/Ross 3. Gay 4. 5. Valanciunas Get rid of everyone else... Johnson, Fields, Bargnani make a combined 22 million. RIDICULOUS... Go find a worthwhile PF and make some F'ing noise with the development of Jonas Valanciunas. The guards and wings are MORE than solid... Hell, Millsap would make this team an incredibly tough out in a playoff series.
This is the new Ujiri Era in Toronto. Not quite the same front office. So they must see something in Bledsoe. I don't think Derozan is that good. Though I don't think Bledsoe improves them over what they already have in Lowry and Derozan in the wings. And yes by far they need a worthwhile power forward.
Johnson is good. He's worth the money. He's actually the 3rd best contract on that team, alongside Jonas and Lowry.
They could just start Bledsoe. He's an instant upgrade defensively over Demar. Their coach is defensive minded, he'll love Bledsoe. And offensively DeMar is way too similar to Gay. They might actually get better with this deal. Not to mention, they have no one behind Lowry at point guard. BUT i think the main value in this deal is just getting rid of DeMar's massive contract. He can score a bunch of inefficient points but you can get that at midlevel, not 10 mil / year for 4 years.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Link to updated story on Clippers/Raptors talks RE: Bledsoe here: <a href="http://t.co/YjZ6e9EuUb">http://t.co/YjZ6e9EuUb</a></p>— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/statuses/351176957225992193">June 30, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>In short: Sources say Clippers prefer Bargnani to DeRozan but are lukewarm to Toronto's pitch in either case, with Doc still so pro-Bledsoe</p>— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/statuses/351177174985871361">June 30, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Add a new suitor to Eric Bledsoe sign-and-trade derby: Clips and Mavs discussing Bledsoe-for-OJ Mayo in live S-and-T scenarios</p>— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/statuses/351824224983322625">July 1, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>And as <a href="https://twitter.com/ramonashelburne">@ramonashelburne</a> reports, Clippers & Bucks talking Bledsoe S-and-T w/JJ Redick coming to LA. Redick/Clips sitdown said to be imminent</p>— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/statuses/351825958086512641">July 1, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
