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Phoenix Suns to shut down Eric Bledsoe for season

By Brad Berreman

Mar 3, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe falls against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the fourth quarter at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the Thunder 118-111. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 3, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe falls against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the fourth quarter at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the Thunder 118-111. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Lottery-bound teams are starting to shut down players, and the Phoenix Suns are now benching Eric Bledsoe for the season.

With 14 games left in the regular season, and a 22-46 record after Wednesday night’s loss to the Kings, the future is clearly now for the Suns. Eric Bledsoe has been dealing with a lingering left knee issue recently, and he was a late scratch for Wednesday night’s game.

John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 was first to suggest the Suns will shut Bledsoe down for the season. Head coach Earl Watson said sitting Bledsoe on Wednesday night was a “management decision,” then promptly talked about Bledsoe’s 2016-17 campaign in the past tense.

"“Bled’s been great, he had a great season, he played at a high level,” Watson said. “He’s been dominant all year. He’s taken a big leap in the right direction. There’s a lot of room for him to grow and he’s excited about that.”"

A bit later on Wednesday night/early Thursday morning, Doug Haller of AZ Central Sports confirmed Bledsoe’s status for the rest of the season.

Bledsoe will finish the season with career-high averages in points (21.1) and assists (6.3) per game, along with 4.8 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game over 66 contests. He had left meniscus surgery in December of 2015, which limited him to just 31 games during the 2015-16 season, so another issue in the same knee is cause for some concern.

Rookie Tyler Ulis made his first career start against the Kings, with a double-double (13 points and 13 assists), two steals and one rebound, and he should play plenty over the rest of the season. Brandon Knight is now telling the Suns he has back spasms, despite not having played since the All-Star Break, so it’s possible he’ll be shut down too.

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Bledsoe has been the subject of trade rumors, but he also has two years and $29.5 million left on his contract. Depending on the direction the Suns want to go during the offseason, Bledsoe could be a veteran leader for a young team or a viable trade chip to further accelerate a youth movement.

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