The Los Angeles Clippers have been approached with yet another deal involving young point guard Eric Bledsoe. With the NBA trade deadline approaching, teams are scattering to enhance their rosters and latest on the list is the Utah Jazz. Since Kevin Garnett let it be known publicly that he had no intention on waiving his no-trade clause, the Jazz have put in their bid for Bledsoe. Read more after the jump.
Report from Marc Stein and ESPNLosAngeles.com’s Ramona Shelburne that the Clippers are talking with the Jazz about Paul Millsap.
Sources with knowledge of the situation told ESPN.com late Saturday there is a level of mutual interest between the Clippers and Utah Jazz in exploring a deal that would feature Bledsoe as the headliner in a trade package for Jazz forward Paul Millsap….
The appeal of Millsap, by contrast, is he’d conceivably help the Clippers in the frontcourt immediately, as well as in the future because of his age (28). Utah’s interest in finding a good young point guard, meanwhile, is an open secret around the league that has led to longstanding speculation that either Millsap or Al Jefferson would be moved by the deadline, given that both are scheduled to become free agents such as Paul in July.
The report goes on to say that rival executives are saying that the Clippers don’t seem eager to move Bledsoe at the deadline and that may make any deal unlikely.
Plus, the Bledsoe and Millsap salaries are about $8 million apart so the Clippers would need to ad a player or players (someone like Caron Butler would work) to make the numbers match. But then the front office would really be messing with a roster they like. For the Jazz, who desperately want a point guard, this kind of deal makes a lot of sense. They almost certainly will move Millsap or Jefferson before the deadline.
