Eric Bledsoe rumors: Teams can't match Phoenix Suns' offer

The Phoenix Suns are offering restricted free agent guard Eric Bledsoe a four-year, $48 million deal, but Bledsoe is reportedly looking for a contract worth around $80 million over five years.

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The Suns would still like to retain Bledsoe and may even be entertaining the thought of acquiring Detroit Pistons’ restricted free agent man Greg Monroe and then re-signing Bledsoe.

The Milwaukee Bucks have continued to pursue Bledsoe, believing he could be a good fit in the back court with young guard Brandon Knight. The Bucks could then potentially use Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker as their forwards or even bring either Antetokounmpo or Knight off of the bench.

However, as Steve Kyler of Basketball Insider points out, teams can’t match the Suns’ offer for Bledsoe.

"The Suns have sort of addressed this… they are planning for Eric to be back either on a new deal with them or on the Qualifying Offer. They’d like for it to be a new deal, but it has to be on their terms. Currently no one in the market place can offer more (outside of Philly who is not interested) than Phoenix is offering and frankly $12 million per is likely the right price for Bledsoe.As for the sign and trade stuff… I can tell you the Bucks would be very interested. The Lakers and Houston is Eric’s side trying to drum up a better offer. As you point out, there is nothing there that makes sense for Phoenix."

Although one reporter has suggested “keeping an eye on” the 76ers, that doesn’t seem like a realistic scenario.

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.

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Eric Bledsoe rumors: Teams can’t match Phoenix Suns’ offer

By Andrew Melnick | Jul 22, 2014