5:20pm: The Trail Blazers have officially placed Bledsoe on waivers, per a press release. He’s on track to become an unrestricted free agent on Friday.
9:41am: The Trail Blazers intend to waive Eric Bledsoe in the coming days, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link), who says several teams are expected to register interest in Bledsoe as a free agent.
Bledsoe had been under contract for $19.38MM in 2022/23, but only $3.9MM of that money is fully guaranteed. If the point guard were to remain under contract through July 10, his full salary would become guaranteed, so Portland will officially waive him before that happens.
Bledsoe, 32, began the 2021/22 season with the Clippers, appearing in 54 games (29 starts) for L.A. and averaging 9.9 PPG, 4.2 APG, and 3.4 RPG in 25.5 minutes per contest. However, he was sent to Portland in the Norman Powell/Robert Covington trade prior to the trade deadline.
Bledsoe never actually appeared in a single game for the Blazers. The team announced in March that he was being shut down for the season after receiving a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection to address the tendinopathy in his left Achilles tendon.
The Blazers were in tank mode after the trade deadline and were shutting down just about veteran on their roster who had a minor ailment, so there’s no reason to think that Bledsoe’s Achilles issue is significant enough to hinder his ability to catch on with a new team once he reaches free agency.
Portland will have the option of applying Bledsoe’s $3.9MM in dead money solely to the 2022/23 cap or stretching it into increments of $1.3MM across three seasons. Stretching that cap hit could be something the Blazers consider, given their proximity to the luxury tax line.
Yossi Gozlan of HoopsHype (Twitter link) estimates that Portland’s team salary is approximately $3.7MM above the tax threshold, but we’ll need to wait for the official details to come in on contracts for Anfernee Simons, Jusuf Nurkic, and Gary Payton II to know for sure.
T wolves would make a lot of sense replace Bev
Nice call. On the same page there lol
Ya, I talked about them having multiple guards, and even versatile 4s that can play guard where it seemed like a couple of them would get moved. Didnt think he would get cut, but it makes sense in terms of being able to potentially match salaries. I also still think something happens with 1 of Winslow/Little/Brown, and I think keon Johnson is probably safe
Would like to see them add a big that can defend pick and roll and protect the Tim, and 0otenitally a shooter on the wing behind Josh Hart/Sharpe
Minnesota could use defense at guard after moving Beverley, New Orlenas could make sense to help while Daniel’s comes along, Phoenix could make a lot of sense, and then some lowkey teams like Dallas, and Memphis after they lost Melton
I assume 2nd round pick Jabari Walker gets Portland’s open 2 way spot. That takes us down currently to 16 guys for 15 spots. Brown should be the odd man out, but not sure Louzada or Watford are safe, if they want to further open up another spot for a vet.
16 guys for 17 spots. The 2 way spot don’t count against the 15 man roster. If Walker gets a 2 way then currently they have 14 guys on the 15 so still have 1 open roster spot if they choose to use it.
My mistake on the math. I accidentally included CJ Elleby who is a free agent. So with the Bledsoe waive they are at 15 standard contracts, 1 two way for Brandon Williams, and the other two way spot potentially earmarked for Walker.
Dallas
They already have a defensive guard who can’t shoot in Ntilikina. ;)
Trailblazers desperately need KD to pair with Dame. It’s a longshot but I’d love to see it happen
Me too, good call. Not sure how it would come together but I’d love to see it.
Simons, Sharpe and Nurk to start
What do the Blazers have that would entice the Nets?
If the guy had the stones for the playoffs he would have been a champion with the Bucks. Maybe he will do better as a 2nd teamer.
He’d be a great back up to the splash bros
I could see that, although they already signed Divincenzo
Yes but Donte Divincenzo $$
Eric Bledsoe minimum deal.
DD isn’t a dribble drop playmaker
Seems more like a small SF
Bulls could use the outside shooting help
Guess yer right his % has been plummeting so nah
Bulls need help at the 4 off the bench, and a backup 5 that can defend pick and roll and protect the rim, and potentially someone that can play small ball 5. Drummond was an unfortunate decision b/c he doesnt defend pick and roll or protect the rim, and he is a ball stopper. I personally hope Millsap goes to the Heat, but he is an option. I think Juan Hernangomez would fit well at the 4 off the bench as a shooter next to their defenders, and possibly Eric Paschall as a small ball 5
Millsap would be nice sure. Hernangomez maybe, but I would rather give Simonovic some minutes than sign Paschall. They need to see what he can do, and Donovan barely even gave him garbage time last year.
Ya I mentioned Siminovic previously. Obviously, if they still have him, he can give them a lot of what I was saying, at least in terms of spacing the floor, but not sure how they currently view him. Maybe we’ll see him in summer league? Both Hernangomez and Paschall played well in Utah last year
Yeah,bulls need another guard. ball,zach,ac,ayo,dragic,coby,terry.. With bledsoe, it will be 8 guards,need 2 more guards. 10 is enough… Ok, need my weeds…
Would be cool if he could shoot. And if he wasnt 6’1. Can’t be running out small guards in Philly. Already got that. If he was 6’5 ok. I’d say…. Nets.
Welcome to the Lakers Bledsoe
Nope
Mini bron still got gas