NBA rumors: Phoenix Suns could sign Eric Bledsoe & Greg Monroe
The Phoenix Suns were one of the league’s biggest surprises in the 2013-2014 season. Most expect the Suns to possibly compete for the top spot in the lottery. Instead, they struck a deal to land Los Angeles Clippers’ guard Eric Bledsoe and although he was injured, the Suns went 48-34 and just barely missed out on the postseason in the ultra competitive Western Conference.
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The Suns tried to make a few moves in-season once they realized just how good they were, targeting Los Angeles Lakers’ big man Pau Gasol and Cleveland Cavaliers’ forward Luol Deng. Talks didn’t progress much and both players have switched teams in free agency. Gasol signed a three-year, $22 million deal with the Chicago Bulls and Deng inked a two-year, $20 million to replace LeBron James with the Miami Heat.
The Suns already made one big splash, acquiring Sacramento Kings’ point guard Isaiah Thomas and giving him a four-year, $27 million deal, but they want to make another. They could wind up make an offer to Detroit Pistons’ restricted free agent big man Greg Monroe.
According to Jordan Schultz of The Huffington Post and NBC Sports Radio, the Suns may be readying an offer for Monroe and have the cap space to sign Monroe and then re-sign Bledsoe (or match an offer in free agency depending on if Bledsoe, a restricted free agent, signs an offer sheer with another team).
Hearing Suns may be considering a Greg Monroe offer. They have space to get both him and Bledsoe but would lose cap flexibility long-term.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) July 20, 2014
Bledsoe averaged 17.7 points, 5.5 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 47.7% from the field, 35.7% from beyond the arc and 77.2% from the free throw line last season. Monroe put up 15.2 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 49.7% from the field and 65.7% from the free throw line last season.