It took nearly three months of free agency for the Phoenix Suns and Eric Bledsoe to finally agree on a contract extension. Both sides were reportedly far apart by over $30 million in contract negotiations but now Bledsoe will be part of the Suns roster for the next five years at an average salary of $14 million per season according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst:
The Phoenix Suns and restricted free-agent guard Eric Bledsoe came to terms Wednesday on a five-year contract sources say is worth $70 million. The deal was a culmination of months of talks and stalemates between the sides that ultimately resulted in Bledsoe getting the largest deal of any restricted free agent this offseason.
The deal is a sigh of relief for both parties as the Suns have now locked up one of their franchise cornerstones for the longest time possible and Bledsoe earns the security that he deserves after putting the best numbers in his career last season averaging 17.7 points and 5.5 assists per game in his first year with Phoenix.
Now that the deal is in place, the Suns enter the 2014-15 season with arguably the most lethal and dynamic back-court rotation in the NBA with Goran Dragic, Isiah Thomas, and Eric Bledsoe, per Sean Sullivan of Brigh Side of the Suns:
The Suns now have a three-headed monster of a back-court, consisting of Goran Dragic, Eric Bledsoe, and Isaiah Thomas. As Hornacek pointed out after signing Thomas in early July, the original plan all along was to employ a three-guard rotation in which two of them would be on the court at all times. Bledsoe will bring not only scoring and passing on offense, but the defense that the Suns so desperately need.
The Phoenix Suns is an ideal fit for a combo guard like Eric Bledsoe as head coach Jeff Horncak not only puts great emphasis on a fast phased offense but also enables Bledsoe to highlight his defensive proficiency as well. With a young and talendted back court, Phoenix now has the necessary pieces in place to emerge as a real threat in the Western Conference.
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