Phoenix Suns still want to re-sign Eric Bledsoe to long deal

The Phoenix Suns likely knew that when they entered 2014 free agency, they’d have some issues re-signing restricted guard Eric Bledsoe. Of course, the trouble was likely to come from rival teams attempting to sign the former Kentucky Wildcat and take him out of the Valley of the Sun.

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What the Phoenix Suns didn’t expect was for Eric Bledsoe to play such hardball as the guard currently sits un-signed, rejecting Phoenix’s four-year, $48 million dollar offer earlier this offseason. For what it’s worth, the Suns aren’t exactly making the situation easy either as they’ve yet to budge on their offer, a figure that Eric Bledsoe seems to feel is a low-ball.

Regardless, despite not offering up more cash, the Phoenix Suns still want to re-sign their star guard.

“We value Eric as a player,” Suns owner Robert Sarver said. “I hope at some point we’ll be able to sit down and meet with those guys and make a deal.”

As for Bledsoe, his options are rather limited. He can take the Phoenix Suns four-year, $48 million dollar contract and run with it or he can attempt to force a sign-and-trade. Of course, that would also take the assistance of the Suns and if they aren’t interested, it’s not going to get done. In that situation Bledsoe would sign a one-year qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent next offseason.

You wouldn’t think things would go that far, but the two sides look like they have their horns locked currently.

If Bledsoe was to accept the qualifying offer, it would come with a no-trade clause.