It seems no matter what happens with Eric Bledsoe's contract situation in Phoenix, their relationship might be damaged forever.
Suns owner Robert Sarver maintains Phoenix’s contract offer, reportedly worth $48 million over four years, is fair but Bledsoe sees himself as a max contract type of player. The two sides remain far apart on a new deal and this has raised speculations on what Bledsoe's next move may be.
There's rumors surfacing now that Bledsoe might now accept his one-year, $3,726,966 qualifying offer.
ESPN's Chris Broussard:
Has Bledsoe's relationship with the Suns been damaged so much that he'd really accept a one-year qualifying offer? The benefit of him doing so would allow him to become an unrestricted costless-agent next summer while prohibitting from trading him next season without his approval.
By Bledsoe being persumably rumored to take the qualifying offer it puts more pressure on the Phoenix Suns to exend him a higher contract offer or they'll risk losing their most young talented player after next season.
Bledsoe is, however, taking a huge gamble that he'll have a great season next year without suffering any major type of injury.
In reality, the Suns have all the leverage in this contract negotiation situation. Bledsoe can talk all he wants about signing the qualifying offer until Oct. 1, when it expires. If it expires, Bledsoe would remain a restricted costless agent. He just wouldn’t have that standing contract offer. So, something should break before then.
Bledsoe averaged 17.7 points, 5.5 assists and 1.7 steals in 32.9 minutes per game while only playing in 43 games last season.