Eric Bledsoe sent a tweet out Sunday simply saying, "I don't wanna be here." The Suns heard him loud and clear.
Phoenix met with Bledsoe on Monday morning and sent the 27-year-old point guard home, according to ESPN's Chris Haynes. The Suns are listening to offers for Bledsoe and are currently engaged in trade talks with multiple teams, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. The trade rumors come only a day after Phoenix fired head coach Earl Watson following the team's 0-3 start with an average point differential of minus-30.7, easily the worst mark in the league.
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Bledsoe followed up Sunday's tweet with another brief comment Monday. He seemed to be in a better mood.
Good morning
— Eric Bledsoe (@EBled2) October 23, 2017
A few suitors have already surfaced from early reports. Here's who has emerged so far...
— The Knicks have reached out to the Suns about Bledsoe (via ESPN's Ian Begley). Phoenix has asked about point guard Frank Ntilikina and center Willy Hernangomez, but New York is "opposed to trading either young player."
— The Bucks have expressed interest in trading for Bledsoe (via The New York Times' Marc Stein).
— The Clippers are interested in reuniting with Bledsoe (via The Washington Post's Tim Bontemps), who played the first three seasons of his career in LA, but a deal appears unlikely given the Clippers' depth at the guard positions (via USA Today's Sam Amick).
— The Nuggets have discussed a trade with the Suns involving Emmanuel Mudiay and other pieces going to Phoenix in exchange for Bledsoe (via Basketball Insiders' Michael Scotto).
Bledsoe averaged 21.1 points, 6.3 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 66 games last season, and he could still be an effective player given the right motivation.
Finding a trade partner might be difficult when considering team and salary constraints as well as Bledsoe driving down his price by clearly expressing his desire to leave Phoenix. The relationship between Bledsoe and the Suns seems unsalvageable at this point, though, so expect the franchise to move him as quickly as possible.
UPDATE: Suns general manager Ryan McDonough confirmed Bledsoe was sent home and says he offered an excuse for his "I don't wanna be here" tweet. It's incredible.
McDonough RE: Bledsoe's tweet: "He said he was at a hair salon... I didn't believe that to be true. He won't be with us going forward."
— ABC15 Sports (@abc15sports) October 23, 2017
Yeah, this guy is getting traded.
