The Phoenix Suns are in a tough spot with Eric Bledsoe and the two sides are far apart with a deal for the restricted free agent and in the future a trade of Goran Dragic could be an option to the Houston Rockets or Indiana Pacers, as the team signed Isaiah Thomas in free agency and they have a glut of players at the guard position with Tyler Ennis drafted this year in the first round.
The Suns come into the offseason after being one of the most surprising teams in the league and they have been rumored to be interested in giving Greg Monroe and offer sheet. According to ESPN.com, the Suns feel confident that Bledsoe will return to the team, but right now things are not looking good, as the two sides are far apart in contract talks. The Suns have offered Bledsoe a deal at four years and worth about $50 million, while Bledsoe is asking for a five year deal worth nearly $30 million more than that. Bledsoe has the right to ask for the max, but he has been injury prone and that could be one reason why the Suns are playing some hardball.
The Suns have cap space to wait and see what happens with Bledsoe and they also have leverage, as the team signed Isaiah Thomas and can afford to wait. The Suns also drafted Tyler Ennis and on top of that they also have Dragic, who has been getting interest since early in the summer from the Pacers. ESPN.com reporter Marc Stein writes that Dragic is a target for the Pacers to upgrade over George Hill, while the Rockets may look at a deal after trading away Jeremy Lin to help Patrick Beverley.
Bledsoe comes into the offseason after having a very solid season with the Suns, but he missed nearly half the season and that comes after he did the same with the Clippers last year. Bledsoe is a dynamic talent and he was a great combo with Dragic last season and the team wants to keep them together, but they backed themselves up by signing Thomas. Last season Bledsoe averaged 17.7 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds and showed some explosive skills and now he could be a target for teams like the Houston Rockets, Bucks or Sixers, as they have the space to make a move.
Ennis was drafted in the first round and he could be an option to step up, but the Suns ideally would like to keep the backcourt intact. According to Pro Basketball Talk and ESPN.com reporter Marc Stein write that the Pacers would love to grab Dragic, but right now there is no movement on the deal. Dragic won most improved player of the year last season and averaged over 20 points and now he comes into the offseason on a team friendly deal at $7.5 million. Dragic could leave once he is a free agent, but for the time being the Suns are sitting tight with him and Thomas. Thomas was a smart move with what is going on with Bledsoe and that gives the Suns some prime leverage.
