The Phoenix Suns might be looking to trade point guard Eric Bledsoe this offseason, despite signing him last season to a five-year, $70 million contract. Bledsoe, 25, could be an intriguing player to a number of teams although there's speculation nothing will happen on the Bledsoe front until free agency shakes out.
"I would expect that to be a situation that you would be OK with extending into the late summer," an NBA executive said. "There is no hurry and you have to know someone is going to be out there looking to make a move once the dust settles."
Bledsoe averaged 17 points during the 2014-15 season and set career-highs in rebounds (5.2) and assists (6.1). He also started a career-best 81 games, marking the first time in his five-year career that he'd started more than 40 games.
Still, questions about Bledsoe's ability to stay on the court persist. They contributed to him not being paid the max contract he coveted, and could haunt the Suns moving forward even though he escaped last year unscathed.
"There was a reason that no one wanted to give him that ($70 million) contract last year. I think you still have to worry about his health," one general manager told Sporting News.
The GM also said there are character questions regarding Bledsoe. " I think you worry about how coachable he is, too." Part of those concerns stem from his drop in performance last year while fighting for playing time and touches with Goran Dragic and Isaiah Thomas in the crowded Suns backcourt.
The Sacramento Kings are no strangers to players with potential chemistry problems though, and they're reportedly expected to "express interest" in Bledsoe. He was orgininally rumored to be part of a potential DeMarcus Cousins trade prior to the NBA Draft, but Bledsoe is an established enough commodity that something could still be worked out. That deal would likely hinge on whether Cousins, who has the backing of Sacramento's front office, can repair his relationship with head coach George Karl.
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