Restricted free agent guard Eric Bledsoe is drawing interest from multiple teams ready to swoop in and sign the explosive two-way player as negotiations with the Phoenix Suns deteriorate.
Bledsoe and the Suns are reportedly far apart in contract talks. Last week, Phoenix completed a sign-and-trade with the Sacramento Kings to acquire point guard Isaiah Thomas with a three-year, $27 million deal. In June, they used a first-round pick on Syracuse point guard Tyler Ennis.
Sacramento is showing interest in Bledsoe, the former Kentucky guard who spent his first two seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers and was dealt to the Suns in the trade that sent JJ Redick L.A.
Bledsoe received a qualifying offer from the Suns, who retain refusal rights to match competing offer sheets, which now seem inevitable.
Milwaukee and Houston are also reportedly eager to have an audience with Bledsoe, who played 43 games last season while fighting a knee injury that required surgery and averaged 17.7 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game.
The 24-year-old is reportedly looking for a max-level contract.
The Rockets traded point guard Jeremy Lin to the Los Angeles Lakers with the expectation of signing free agent Chris Bosh, who re-signed with the Miami Heat. Houston couldn’t compete with the Bucks to offer a full max deal without a sign-and-trade agreement with Phoenix.