The Phoenix Suns have traded point guard Eric Bledsoe.
The Suns confirmed a report from ESPN on Tuesday that the team has sent the unhappy Bledsoe to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for power forward/center Greg Monroe, as well as a future first-round NBA Draft pick and possibly a second-round draft pick in 2018.
The Suns will receive the Bucks' first-round pick in 2018 if it falls between picks 11-16. If that doesn't happen, the Suns will get that pick in 2019 if it falls between picks 4-16, or in 2020 if it falls between picks 8-30.
The Suns will receive the Bucks' 2018 second-round pick if it falls between picks 48-60. If it doesn't, the Bucks will retain that pick.
The 6-foot-11, 265-pound Monroe was selected by the Detroit Pistons with the seventh overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft and has played for the Bucks since 2015. He has averaged 14 points and 8.7 rebounds per game during his NBA career, but he has seen his playing time drop significantly this season and has been sidelined since last week with a calf injury. He has averaged 6.8 points and five rebounds in five games this season.
The Suns sent Bledsoe home two weeks ago after Bledsoe tweeted "I Dont wanna be here". Bledsoe was fined $10,000 for that tweet. Suns general manager Ryan McDonough said Bledsoe told him his tweet was in regard to being at a hair salon -- a claim McDonough did not believe.
The Suns acquired Bledsoe in a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers before the 2013-14 NBA season. He has averaged 18.8 points and six assists per game during his three-plus seasons in Phoenix. He had career-high averages in points (21.1) and assists (6.3) in 2015-16.
Bledsoe reportedly spent time practicing at ASU's Wells Fargo Arena every day from Monday-Friday last week.
Bledsoe had made clear that he enjoys being in Phoenix, but also let his frustrations be known when he was benched at the end of last season for younger developing players.
Monroe is in the final year of his contract. He is scheduled to make just under $18 million this year before becoming an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.
Bledsoe is in the fourth year of a five-year contract. He will make $14.5 million this season and $15 million next season.
