Eric Bledsoe: ‘Phoenix Suns are using restricted free agency against me’
Phoenix Suns’ guard Eric Bledsoe was one of the prized acquisitions of the offseason in 2013. The Phoenix Suns were able to pry Bledsoe away from the Los Angeles Clippers in a three-way trade that sent guard J.J. Redick to the Clippers from the Milwaukee Bucks and sending future second round draft picks to the Bucks.
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As he hit restricted free agency this season, Bledsoe once again hoped to be one of the big offseason prizes and figured he just had to wait until the likes LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh made their decisions. However, once James left the Miami Heat for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Anthony re-signed with the New York Knicks and Bosh re-upped with the Heat, Bledsoe still didn’t see much in the way an offers. Now, no team, except for the Philadelphia 76ers, has the money to offer Bledsoe. Bledsoe is reportedly looking for a five-year, $80 million deal to stay with the Suns but the Suns have offered a four-year, $48 million deal, but they may be willing to up that offer.
Although the two sides reportedly seem to be progressing closer toward a deal, Bledsoe is unhappy with the way the Suns have treated him this offseason and believes the team is using his restricted free agency against him.
“First off I’m going to let my agent handle it,” Bledsoe said, while attending a “Ball Up” street ball tournament in Birmingham via Alabama’s 13 WVTM. “I can understand the Phoenix Suns are using a restricted free agent against me. But I understand that.”
As a restricted free agent, the Suns do hold all of the cards and Bledsoe clearly understands that in the end, the Suns are making a business decision.
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. In his career, he’s put up 8.7 points, 3.4 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game while shooting 44.5% from the field, 32.7% from three and 75.9% from the free throw line.