Suns, Bledsoe agree to $70M deal

Sep 25, 2014 - 1:28 AM Phoenix, AZ (SportsNetwork.com) - The Phoenix Suns and restricted free-agent guard Eric Bledsoe have settled their differences and agreed to a five-year contract, the team announced Wednesday.

The reported $70-million deal is a substantial increase over the reported four-year, $48 million that the Suns had offered Bledsoe at the start of free agency in July. Phoenix and Bledsoe renewed negotiations this week.

"I learned long ago that it doesn't matter how stormy the sea is as long as the ship comes in and today we are thrilled that the ship has come in and Eric will remain a Sun for a long time," said president of basketball operations Lon Babby. "He will be an integral part not only of our basketball team, but our Phoenix community."

The 24-year-old Bledsoe averaged 17.7 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds in 43 games last season. He missed a majority of the season with a torn meniscus in his knee that required surgery.

"Lon, Ryan (McDonough) and the Suns have shown confidence in me, and I am looking to take that responsibility and help our team get better from last year and position ourselves to win an NBA championship," said Bledsoe. "It's why I came back to Phoenix. All summer, I knew that I really would be most comfortable coming back to Phoenix because of the great fans, my Suns teammates and our coaches. I am very happy it was able to work out this way."

Bledsoe had planned to sign a one-year qualifying offer of $3.7 million with the Suns at the end of this week had a deal not been reached so he could be an unrestricted free agent next year.

Prior to joining the Suns, Bledsoe played the first three seasons of his professional career with the Clippers.