News

AP Source: Suns deal Bledsoe to Bucks for Monroe, 2 picks

FILE - At left, in a March 6, 2017, file photo, Milwaukee Bucks' Greg Monroe (15) shoots during an NBA basketball game against the Philadelphia 76ers, in Philadelphia. At right, in a March 12, 2017, file photo, Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe (2) shoots over a Portland Trail Blazers defender during an NBA basketball game, in Phoenix. A person with knowledge of the deal says the Phoenix Suns have agreed to trade disgruntled guard Eric Bledsoe to the Milwaukee Bucks for big man Greg Monroe and two 2018 draft picks. The deal includes a protected first-round and a protected second-round draft pick, according to the person who spoke Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, on condition of anonymity because the trade first reported by ESPN had not yet been finalized.(AP Photo/File) Photo: Associated Press


MILWAUKEE (AP) — A person with knowledge of the deal says the Phoenix Suns have agreed to trade disgruntled guard Eric Bledsoe to the Milwaukee Bucks for big man Greg Monroe and two 2018 draft picks.

The deal includes a protected first-round and a protected second-round draft pick, according to the person who spoke Tuesday on condition of anonymity because the trade first reported by ESPN had not yet been finalized.

Bledsoe has not been with the team since Oct. 22 when he posted “I Don’t wanna be here” on Twitter, the same day the Suns fired coach Earl Watson. He had been averaging 15.7 points per game, second behind Devin Booker, and was the team’s on-court leader.

Adding Bledsoe will take some of the focus off of do-it-all All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is the Bucks’ primary ball-handler. Milwaukee has lost four of its last five games but adding Bledsoe’s scoring ability alongside Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton on a team that also includes rising guard Malcolm Brogdon could help. The Bucks played at Cleveland on Tuesday night.

Monroe, who joined the team as a free agent in 2015, has been sidelined recently because of a left calf strain. Milwaukee will likely look to consolidate the center position and look ahead to early next year when the front line should get a boost with the return of injured forward Jabari Parker.

___

 

Recent Headlines

2 days ago in Sports

No. 11 seed VCU erases 19-point deficit, stuns sixth-seeded North Carolina 82-78 in OT

Terrence Hill Jr. felt he just wasn't himself in the first half of Thursday night's first round NCAA Tournament game. When he returned after the break, he was...

2 days ago in Sports

High Point’s upset starts run of 4 wins by double-digit seeds, busting March Madness brackets

Well, the dream was fun while it lasted — all two-ish hours of it. The bid for a perfect NCAA Tournament bracket disappeared for more than...

2 days ago in Sports

Saint Louis pounds Georgia 102-77 in March Madness as Dion Brown dominates at the rim with 18 points

Dion Brown scored 18 points on 9-of-10 shooting, all on layups and dunks, and Saint Louis blew out Georgia 102-77 in the first round of...

2 days ago in Local Sports, Northwest Sports, Professional, Sports

Kraken’s playoff hopes take a hit with loss to Predators

Seattle and Nashville are tied just outside the last West playoff spot

2 days ago in College, Local Sports, Northwest Sports, Sports

Gonzaga holds off scrappy Kennesaw State for a first-round March Madness win

Bulldogs felt the pressure after controversial late foul calls