Eric Bledsoe Gets Traded to Bucks

The Phoenix Suns finally wiped the slate clean of the team's dragging Eric Bledsoe saga on Tuesday, November 7, by agreeing to a deal that will reportedly send the star point guard to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for big man Greg Monroe and a first and second-round protected draft pick.

NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski first reported the news for ESPN. Analysts suspect that the addition of Monroe was simply a move to clear up cap space seeing how he is in the final year of a three-year, $51 million contract. Phoenix initially tried to pry away reigning Rookie of the Year, Malcolm Brogdon in the deal, but Milwaukee wasn't willing to part. Depending on the extent of Phoenix's commitment to prioritize rebuilding, it is speculated that they may just buy Monroe out and keep their picks.

The precedence that rebuilding has taken for the Suns' front office is said to have been partly responsible for driving a wedge between Bledsoe and the team in the first place. Fans will recall coach Earl Watson sitting Bledsoe down for much of the tail end of the 2016-17 season in an effort to suppress their record so they may acquire a higher position in the draft.

Bledsoe's resentment carried over into the current season and boiled over some weeks ago when a tweet of him stating "I don't wanna be here" was recovered and blown up in the press. Within hours coach Watson was fired and General Manager Ryan McDonough was conveying to reporters that he believed Bledsoe's run with the team may have been in its last days.

Bledsoe now gets an opportunity to reset with a potential contender, as he brings the 21.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 6.3 assists he averaged last season into an offense that consists of stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton. It is anticipated that Bledsoe will join the team in San Antonio later this week.