The Phoenix Suns aren't going to let Eric Bledsoe get away, according to general manager Ryan McDonough. Bledsoe will become a restricted free agent this upcoming offseason and McDonough intends to give the guard whatever is necessary to keep him in Phoenix, via ESPN's Ramona Shelburne:
"Sometimes that works out and both parties think it's a good deal for them. Other times it doesn't," McDonough said. "Obviously we don't have a whole lot of money committed for the future, we don't have a lot of long-term contracts on our books. So we'll have no problem stepping up and paying Eric whatever it takes to keep him."
Whatever it takes?
"Correct," McDonough said. "Any reasonable offer."
The Suns could have given Bledsoe an extension before the start of the season, but failed to come to an agreement. At the time, he had not proven himself as a starter. Now, with averages of 18.4 points, 5.9 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game alongside 49.2 percent shooting from the field and 35.2 percent shooting behind the three-point line, Bledsoe has established himself as an impact player on a winning team. The 24-year-old will be in line for a sizable raise in the summer.
There was risk involved in entering the season without a long-term deal, but Bledsoe was more than prepared to show the league what he was worth, via Shelburne:
"I was telling [my agent] over the summer, if the contract doesn't happen I'm ready to play a full season," Bledsoe said. "I was confident because I'd worked hard all summer, and I knew that I was going to play a lot more than I did the last three years, so I was ready."
Phoenix could have likely saved millions by locking Bledsoe up as soon as he arrived, but as long as the team retains him McDonough should be happy with the deal that brought him there. The Suns swapped forward Jared Dudley and a second-round pick for Bledsoe and his near-all-star level production back in July.
According to ESPN.
