Hoops Habit
Fansided

NBA Free Agency 2014: Best Potential Landing Spots for Eric Bledsoe

By Maxwell Ogden

Apr 14, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe (2) answers questions after facing the Memphis Grizzlies at US Airways Center. The Grizzlies won 97-91. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 14, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe (2) answers questions after facing the Memphis Grizzlies at US Airways Center. The Grizzlies won 97-91. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 6
Next
Apr 14, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe (2) answers questions after facing the Memphis Grizzlies at US Airways Center. The Grizzlies won 97-91. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 14, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe (2) answers questions after facing the Memphis Grizzlies at US Airways Center. The Grizzlies won 97-91. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

Free agency hasn’t been as fun as many expected it to be for star point guard Eric Bledsoe.

Fresh off of a breakout season, Bledsoe was projected by many to be in line for a max contract. The 24-year-old averaged 17.7 points, 5.5 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 1.6 steals—all career-best marks—and shot 35.7 percent from beyond the arc.

Rather than returning to the incumbent Phoenix Suns with a healthy sum of money in his bank account, Chris Broussard of ESPN reports that Bledsoe and the Suns are far apart in contract negotiations.

There’s a very strong chance that Bledsoe is on his way out of Phoenix.

Live Feed

The 5 best Phoenix Suns teammates Devin Booker has had
The 5 best Phoenix Suns teammates Devin Booker has had /

Valley of the Suns

  • NBA Free Agency: 3 teams that should sign point guard Eric Bledsoe Hoops Habit
  • Taking a look at potential free agents Cavs should consider signing King James Gospel
  • Raptors should go nowhere near Eric Bledsoe in free agency Raptors Rapture
  • Lakers must avoid this recently-released big-name veteran at all costs Lake Show Life
  • Portland Trail Blazers: 2022 NBA free agency recap and review Rip City Project

    • There are a number of reasons for Bledsoe’s current unemployment. For starters, he’s a restricted free agent.

    Under those guidelines, the Suns have the right to match any offer that Bledsoe receives. This has led to teams shying away from him under fear that they’d be forced to overpay to get past Phoenix.

    Another factor is that Bledsoe only played 43 games in 2013-14—his first season as a full-time starter. He suffered a shin injury in late December, but that later proved to be a meniscus-related ailment which forced him to miss nearly three months of action.

    A knee injury is a very big red flag for a player who relies heavily on athleticism.

    It doesn’t help that the Suns acquired point guard Isaiah Thomas from the Sacramento Kings via a sign-and-trade. Thomas averaged 20.3 points and 6.3 assists—for what it’s worth, those were higher marks than Bledsoe—on a slash line of .453/.349/.850 in 2013-14.

    With Most Improved Player of the Year award winner Goran Dragic also in tow, Phoenix has a crowded backcourt.

    Either Phoenix is going with a trio of relatively high-profile point guards or it’s letting someone go. If that is the case, it’s likely to be Bledsoe, who would depart via a sign-and-trade in said scenario.

    The question is, where should Bledsoe end up?