NBA News Wire
Reports: Suns increase offer to PG Bledsoe
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
The Phoenix Suns have increased their offer to sign restricted free-agent point guard Eric Bledsoe, according to multiple reports.
With training camp set to open next week, Bledsoe and the Suns have been in a stalemate all summer after the team offered him a four-year, $48 million deal in July. Bledsoe reportedly is seeking a five-year max offer worth in excess of $80 million.
The Arizona Republic reported that a resolution could come as soon as the end of business Wednesday and Yahoo Sports reported there has been “significant momentum” toward a deal.
The threat of seeing Bledsoe become an unrestricted free agent and the recent interest shown in him by the Minnesota Timberwolves has apparently prompted Phoenix to improve its offer to the 24-year-old.
ESPN.com reported last week that the Wolves have continued to aggressively pursue Bledsoe in a sign-and-trade deal that would have landed him a four-year max contract valued at $63 million.
Bledsoe averaged 17.7 points and 5.5 assists in 43 games for the Suns last season after being traded from the Los Angeles Clippers. He suffered a midseason meniscus injury to his right knee but returned after surgery.
The Suns added two new point guards during the offseason — signing free-agent Isaiah Thomas to a four-year, $27 million deal in July and selecting Tyler Ennis in the first round of the NBA draft in June.
