The Milwaukee Bucks have reportedly come to terms on an agreement for a four-year, $70 million extension with point guard Eric Bledsoe.
The Milwaukee Bucks’ incredibly busy Friday night continued as following a reported deal to acquire Pau Gasol, the franchise is said to also have resolved one of the major questions facing them in the summer’s free agency.
According to a report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Bucks and point guard Eric Bledsoe have come to terms on a four-year extension, worth $70 million in total.
Guard Eric Bledsoe has agreed to a four-year, $70M extension with the Milwaukee Bucks, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 1, 2019
Bledsoe was set to be an unrestricted free agent this summer, alongside fellow Milwaukee starters Malcolm Brogdon, Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez.
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The deal sees Bledsoe earn a minor raise on a per year basis from his current contract, while also getting a major piece of business completed ahead of the curve for the Bucks.
Bledsoe is currently enjoying a stellar season with the Bucks, having bounced back from a disappointing playoff performance in his first season with the team.
The 29-year-old is averaging 15.7 points, 5.5 assists, 4.6 rebounds, 1.4 steals per game, while shooting 49.2 percent from the field. According to Wojnarowski, Bledsoe’s desire to remain in Milwaukee played a major role in his willingness to come to terms on a deal ahead of free agency.
Bledsoe, 29, is having his best NBA season with Bucks and was determined to stay with franchise. He could've gone into free agency this summer, but his deal starts to set the market for free agent guards in July. Deal gives Bucks chance to focus on Khris Middleton in July FA now. https://t.co/zOw7jBJsMi
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 1, 2019
In an interview with ESPN’s Malika Andrews earlier in the season, Bledsoe also emphasized his happiness in Milwaukee. Andrews relayed that it was “the happiest he has been in his nine-year career”, in a piece that also touched on Bledsoe’s playoff demons.
Speaking of his struggles in the Bucks’ seven-game series defeat to the Celtics last season, Bledsoe told Andrews:
"“It was my fault we lost the Boston series,” Bledsoe says, shoving his hands into the pockets of his sweatpants before twisting the left side of his mouth into a half-smile, half-snarl that makes the 29-year-old look like a toddler with a secret.“It’s a good thing to feel like that sometimes,” he continues. “You want to be hungry and prove everybody wrong.”"
From the Bucks’ perspective, it would have been understandable if they were tempted to see Bledsoe play in the postseason again before making a long-term commitment.
As it turns out, Bledsoe’s excellent play on both ends of the floor this season has obviously proved enough to convince Jon Horst and Co. of his long-term importance to the franchise.