NBA Trade Rumors: Pistons interested in Eric Bledsoe

The Detroit Pistons are one of three teams named as serious suitors for Los Angeles Clippers reserve point guard Eric Bledsoe, according to a report.

The other two teams, according to ESPN's Marc Stein, are the Toronto Raptors and the Orlando Magic. The indication after reading Stein's pieces is that the top two contenders at the moment are the Raptors and Magic.

Bledsoe is seeking an extension with any team that trades for him, Stein says.

I've long been skeptical of Bledsoe as an answer at point guard. He went from relatively useless his first two seasons and then all of the sudden was the next great point guard in the NBA.

In truth, his true shooting percentage and turnover rate are below average. In fact, if you look at the stats he's a lot like Brandon Knight, only a little better at distributing and a little worse as a shooter. He is miles better on defense, though, and that alone makes him a serviceable NBA player.

But serviceable shouldn't be enough for Detroit. Not when they could re-sign Jose Calderon who was a great fit in Detroit. And not when whatever contract Bledsoe signs will be paying him to be much more than serviceable.

It's interesting to note, however, that it doesn't appear that the Clippers are expecting a haul in return for Bledsoe. Orlando is offering Arron Afflalo, a good but slightly overpaid shooting guard who works best as a third or fourth option on offense.

Toronto, meanwhile, is dangling Andrea Bargnani or DeMar DeRozan. Bargnani has actively hurt the Raptors for years while DeRozan is fresh off a $40 million extension that the Raptors are already trying to unload.

Under those circumstances, the Pistons might be able to get Bledsoe for Stuckey and Knight. But they would still have to hand over an extension.