Report: Eric Bledsoe and Phoenix Suns Making Progress on Deal
By Tony Burgess
Apr 12, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Devin Harris (20) and Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe (2) during the game at the American Airlines Center. The Mavericks defeated the Suns 101-98. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Eric Bledsoe and the Phoenix Suns have been at a stalemate with one another for the past few months with neither side adjusting their offer at all. It has been expected for a while now that Bledsoe will just take the 1-year qualifying offer and become an unrestricted free agent next summer leaving the 2014 NBA season with the Suns to be a very awkward one.
Now, out of seemingly nowhere, the two sides may actually be close on a new long-term deal according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports:
Phoenix, Eric Bledsoe have made progress on a new contract in past 48-72 hours, sources tell Yahoo. No deal yet, but significant momentum.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 24, 2014
I, like many other fans, am shocked to see Eric Bledsoe and the Suns trying to work out a new deal after no movement at all for, basically, this entire summer. Bledsoe wanted a max contract while the Suns were only offering 4 years, $48 million. It is reasonable to think this new deal would be above the Suns’ previous offer and lower than the max contract Bledsoe wants.
The recent negotiations may have been brought up by last week’s news of the Minnesota Timberwolves wanting to do a sign-and-trade deal with the Suns to acquire Bledsoe. The Timberwolves offered Bledsoe his max contract of 4 years, $63 million but the Wolves can not perform this deal to acquire Bledsoe due to their own cap restrictions. As a result, the Wolves have been asking the Suns to do a sign-and-trade deal.
The Wolves assets are not great while they may have #1 overall pick, Andrew Wiggins, and point guard, Ricky Rubio, the Wolves value these players as untouchable. Anyone else on the team would not be equal to Eric Bledsoe’s value.
The Suns have been rumored to not be interested at all with the Timberwolves offer and, now, apparently the Suns and Bledsoe have met back up to negotiate on a new contract. This would be huge to bring back a great young guard for the long run.
Hopefully, this rumor is real and the Suns can make a deal happen. Check back at Heat Waved for new updates.