Report: Eric Bledsoe and Suns ‘far apart’ on contract
In what has been one of the more unsuspecting turns of free agency, Eric Bledsoe’s free agency doesn’t look like it’s coming to an end anytime soon. In the latest update of this trivial saga, Bledsoe and the Phoenix Suns remain far apart on a deal.
Eric Bledsoe & #Suns still far apart: "I can understand the Suns are using the restricted FA against me." pic.twitter.com/SaOZFA8s2z
— Kyle Burger (@kyle_burger) July 26, 2014
Coming into free agency, two things were expected: 1) the Phoenix Suns would match any max contract offer sheet thrown out to Eric Bledsoe and 2) Eric Bledsoe would command a lot of attention from teams looking to nab one of the best young point guards in the NBA.
Neither of that appears to be true as we’re almost two months into free agency. Eric Bledsoe has made it known that he, for sure, wants a max contract. The Phoenix Suns don’t look like they’ll throw one out–they last offered Bledsoe a deal that spans over the next four years and would pay out a total of $48 million ($12 million per year).
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And unfortunately for Bledsoe, the Suns hold ALL of the leverage in this scenario. There are few teams who can currently offer Bledsoe the max deal who wants–Orlando, Phoenix, Philadelphia. Orlando recently drafted Elfrid Payton throwing them out of the discussion and it doesn’t look like Philly is interested in adding a high-salary player to their roster leaving Phoenix as the lone team able to offer the max.
In the end, this scenario will play out two ways. Either Eric Bledsoe will accept the offer the Suns have thrown out, or he’ll accept the qualifying offer of $3.7 million and enter free agency unrestricted next season.
With his injury history, it’s unlikely the latter is the end-point in this story. Basically, the Suns have Bledsoe right where they want him.