LeBron James tells Phoenix Suns to ‘break bread’ with Eric Bledsoe
Although he entered free agency as one of the top players on the market, Phoenix Suns’ restricted free agent guard Eric Bledsoe remains on the market.
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Bledsoe is looking for a five-year, $80 million deal while the Suns have offered a four-year, $48 million deal, which could cause Bledsoe to sign the Suns’ qualifying offer and become an unrestricted free agent next year.
The Suns started the summer with dreams of not only retaining Bledsoe, but perhaps pursuing the game’s best player, LeBron James – he and Bledsoe are friends and share the same agent, Rich Paul. Although James opted for a return to the Cleveland Cavaliers instead, he is still willing to give the Suns a bit of advice.
James posted this message about Bledsoe on his Instagram account.
"Great work today lil bro @ebled2!! Future All-Star in this league in no time. PHX break bread. #Klutch #Work #GymRats #StriveForGreatness"
Of course, if the Suns haven’t dished out max bucks to keep Bledsoe yet, it seems clear they won’t do it now either.
James averaged 27.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 56.7% from the field, 37.9% from three and 75.0% from the charity stripe last season. In the playoffs, he went for 27.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game while shooting 56.5% from the floor, 40.7% from beyond the arc and 80.6% from the free throw line. In his career, he’s gone for 27.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 1.7 steals per game while shooting 49.7% from the field, 34.1% from beyond the arc and 74.7% from the charity stripe.
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. Bledsoe, who was the 18th-overall pick of the 2010 NBA Draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder (he was immediately dealt to the Los Angeles Clippers) has put up 8.7 points, 3.4 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 44.5% from the floor, 32.7% from three and 75.9% from the charity stripe.
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(H/T to Ball Don’t Lie)