Eric Bledsoe wants a trade from the Phoenix Suns, but it appears the organization isn’t willing to do that just yet.
On Sunday, Eric Bledsoe tweeted “I don’t wanna be here” after the Phoenix Suns had gotten demolished by the Los Angeles Clippers the night before. Earl Watson got fired shortly after. Since then, tensions between the guard and the organization have reached an all-time high, but Bledsoe reportedly wanted out of Phoenix before the season even began.
ESPN’s Chris Haynes reported that the 27-year-old met with owner Robert Sarver and general manager Ryan McDonough during the preseason. Bledsoe, who had various gripes revolving around the direction of the team and some of the decisions the front office made, wasn’t granted his request. Instead, management told him that “the team had unperformed ever since he was given starting point guard responsibilities,” which — not-so-ironically — coincides with the team trading away Goran Dragic and Isaiah Thomas during the 2014-15 season. That was Bledsoe’s second year in Phoenix.
McDonough appeared on Arizona Sports radio 98.7 to talk about the situation with Bledsoe:
“I was certainly surprised by it and disappointed by it. I think Eric’s a good person. I think he’s unfortunately gotten some bad advice and is listening to the wrong people. I think generally, any time you sign a contract, it doesn’t only work one way. It works both ways, and for a guy with years on his contract to say or intimate he didn’t want to be here anymore, I didn’t find that to be appropriate, and I think if he says he wants to be a leader, that’s the opposite of what a leader does and the opposite of what leadership is. So I think that’s all I’m going to say about that.”
Does anyone remember when the Cleveland Cavaliers‘ front office said it was inappropriate for Kyrie Irving to request a trade? No, because that’s not you handle your players. Bledsoe is acting selfishly here, but that’s because he’s in his prime and wants to be a part of something that’s bigger and better and less dysfunctional. You can’t blame him. He also knows that the Suns are better off without him for the long-term.
“[Eric’s] a talented player and a good player,” continued McDonough. “But, like I said, I think he’s just being a little bit misguided at the moment with some of the advice he’s getting (from his agent, Rich Paul).”
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In three games, the Alabama native averaged 15.7 points and 3.0 assists, a considerable drop from the 21.1 and 6.3 he put up in 2016-17.
Haynes then noted how the franchise isn’t rushing to complete a deal because Bledsoe isn’t with the team.
Including this season, Bledsoe has two years left on his contract. McDonough closed by saying that Bledsoe has to “live with the consequences” of the decision he made. Regardless of what happened, it’s appalling to see an executive come out and drag his player like this. Ryan McDonough’s comments are a terrible look for a franchise that’s already the laughing stock of the NBA.
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