Phoenix Suns, Eric Bledsoe agree to contract
Sep 24, 2014, 9:52 PM | Updated: Sep 25, 2014, 1:26 am
It took a while, but the Phoenix Suns and Eric Bledsoe have finally agreed to a new contract.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the contract is for five years and worth $70 million.
It’s a considerable amount more than the four-year, $48 million deal the team had reportedly been offering.
“I learned long ago that it doesn’t matter how stormy the sea is as long as the ship comes in and today we are thrilled that the ship has come in and Eric will remain a Sun for a long time,” said president of basketball operations Lon Babby in a press release. “He will be an integral part not only of our basketball team, but our Phoenix community.”
Bledsoe, who was acquired by the Suns prior to last season, averaged 17.7 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds in 43 games. His season was limited due to injuries, but when on the court he proved to be very effective.
With Bledsoe in the lineup, the Suns posted a 28-15 record. Without him, they were just 20-19.
“We are thrilled Eric Bledsoe will be in a Phoenix Suns uniform for years to come,” general manager Ryan McDonough said. “Eric is one the most exciting and dynamic two-way players in the league. He played very well for us on both ends of the floor last season and we feel he is well on his way to establishing himself as one of the elite players in the NBA.”
As a restricted free agent the Suns had the right to match any offer he would have signed with another team, and the 24-year-old was unable to find a suitor outside of Phoenix. But according to the guard, he never wanted to play anywhere else.
“Lon, Ryan and the Suns have shown confidence in me, and I am looking to take that responsibility and help our team get better from last year and position ourselves to win an NBA championship,” Bledsoe said. “It’s why I came back to Phoenix. All summer, I knew that I really would be most comfortable coming back to Phoenix because of the great fans, my Suns teammates and our coaches. I am very happy it was able to work out this way.”
Originally drafted by the Oklahoma City Thunder and then traded to the Los Angeles Clippers on draft day in 2010, Bledsoe has career averages of 8.7 points, 3.4 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game.
