The Phoenix Suns were supposed to be one of handful of teams in full tank mode to try an draft Jabari Parker or Andrew Wiggins in the June NBA Draft.
Instead the Suns are off to a 19-11 start, and Eric Bledsoe is a huge part of that early success. With averages of 18 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.8 assists in 33.5 minutes per contest, the Suns have a keeper in Bledsoe.
According to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN Los Angeles, the Suns and GM Ryan McDonough say they will pay whatever it takes to keep the restricted free agent to be in Phoenix.
“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.
“We have some advantages. We’re able to give him another year, five instead of four if we choose. We’re able to give him higher-percentage increases than other teams too. And then if another team does make an offer, we can always match that. So we feel like we’re holding the cards with Eric, and more importantly, I think Eric’s had a good experience here so far. He’s played well and the team has played fairly well. I think he kind of likes what we’re doing.”