Bucks looking at Bledsoe, probably.

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

Assuming we don't give up a future first to get Bledsoe, it's really a no-brainer and everyone should be on board. If you have to give up a 1st that is when I really start thinking long and hard about passing. Between the 1st, a large contract, and a small sample size that includes a major injury, the risk is probably too high in my opinion. Simply acquiring Bledsoe is not anti-tank or a "win-now" move though. It is simply acquiring another very good young asset.

But how valuable is that asset on a contract he doesn't deserve and likely never will?

It is impossible to know how things will play out and everyone has their own opinion, but if he can stay healthy I think he's definitely worth the contract. I think there is minimal risk as long as we don't have to give up a 1st round pick. Our cap situation is going to be in good shape moving forward and we are still at least 3 or 4 years away from having to commit major money to our young core (Giannis and Parker) so taking on a large deal for Bledsoe doesn't really hurt us, even if he doesn't live up to the contract.

[coolhandluke121]

Assuming we don't give up a future first to get Bledsoe, it's really a no-brainer and everyone should be on board. If you have to give up a 1st that is when I really start thinking long and hard about passing. Between the 1st, a large contract, and a small sample size that includes a major injury, the risk is probably too high in my opinion. Simply acquiring Bledsoe is not anti-tank or a "win-now" move though. It is simply acquiring another very good young asset.

You could argue the exact opposite though. If you want to win, you would rather give up future firsts than guys like Ersan, Sanders, Middleton, Zaza, or Knight, all of whom could be important, immediate contributors next year - not to mention very good complementary players for Jabari, Giannis, and Bledsoe.

If they do get Bledsoe, I would want them to give up Henson, who I think is just the Gumby version of Drew Gooden, and future firsts. I don't think it's highly likely that any picks in the next 4 years would end up in the lottery.

[Badgerlander]

Assuming we don't give up a future first to get Bledsoe, it's really a no-brainer and everyone should be on board. If you have to give up a 1st that is when I really start thinking long and hard about passing. Between the 1st, a large contract, and a small sample size that includes a major injury, the risk is probably too high in my opinion. Simply acquiring Bledsoe is not anti-tank or a "win-now" move though. It is simply acquiring another very good young asset.

IF we give up a pick you have to put protections on it in case of an injury, like top 10 this year, top 5 next year, etc, because if he does miss significant time then we are tankapalooza part 2. Also if Frye signs elsewhere I would think that they would have interest in Ersan as part of the deal.

[M-C-G]

I think people need to throw out preconceived notions of what the Bucks are or are not able to do.

Jason Kidd should've done that.

According to Stein we are already "pitching" Eric Bledsoe on an offer sheet.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/status/485496057313652737[/tweet]

I don't see any published reports that link any other teams to pitching him.

I'm going to be hopeful until we hear otherwise.

Can someone link the Stein quote ?


Sent from my iPad using RealGM Forums

@ESPNSteinLine
In addition to weighing possible trade for Lin, I'm told Bucks are pitching offer sheet to RFA Eric Bledsoe and pursuing PG Greivis Vasquez

Thanks, can't stand that the ipad app doesn't let you see tweets. Well this is interesting news for sure, pitching an offer sheet is much more serious then just checking for interest.

[Diggr14]

there is almost no realistic circumstance that it makes any sense for this team to deal a 1st round pick over the next 3 years, pretty much none. All Bledsoe does is push us closer to winning an 8 seed. It's too early to be making this move. Come next year, there will be another guy like this.... the year after that, the same thing.. and so on.

He isn't franchise changing, we should be focusing on drafting guys that are franchise changing and the best way to do that is not be the 8 seed. We havent had 2-3 years of top 5 picks.... stay the course.

[paulpressey25]

I'm trying to understand how a PG who is a 19/5/5/ guy who is an efficient scorer with great defense isn't good enough for us to be "franchise changing".

No, he's not LeBron. But he's likely better than Marcus Smart at this point, other than the health issue that is legit.

People need to get out of their heads the idea that the odds favor us getting another Jabari in the 2015 draft. They don't. We'd have to purposely tank hard like Philly did, and even then maybe we get jammed down like Utah and Orlando did this past draft.

[EastSideBucksFan]

Bledsoe / Giannis / Jabari

Westbrook / Harden / Durant


Bledsoe and Westbrook are pretty comparable.
Giannis & Harden are very different players, but make impacts in different ways.
Jabari & Durant could be comparable.

If the Bucks believe Bledsoe/Giannis/Jabari could be our big three to build around then I'm willing to roll the dice and see how it works out. Next year we'll have Mayo & Ersan deals as expirings so we could move them during the summer or at the deadline to bring in more pieces to put around them.

In the meantime, we let Bledsoe/Giannis/Jabari develop for the next 1.5-2 years with the other guys like Knight, Middleton, Henson, Sanders, Wolters, etc. Then when some more salary slots/trade deals become available we'll be able to identify needs and fill out roster to make a run at winning a playoff series.

[M-C-G]

OK, caught up on the thread and here is where I am at;

1. Tanking is over guys, we have entered phase II - rebuilding...this means adding young talent, playing young guys and not signing win now vets like delfi, zaza, etc.

2. I think there is exactly as much risk with a Bledsoe max as you see with Gordon...difference being Bledsoe would likely want to be here as part of the young core, where as Gordon was miserable day 1 in New Orleans. The opportunity to add a Bledsoe talent in MKE via free agency will happen about once every 10 years, and to get a guy that will essentially be entering his prime through the contract is a probably once every 20 years.

3. Not worried about salary cap ramifications as ZaZa, Delfi, Mayo and Ersan could all come off the books after the 2015 season, freeing up 25M in cap space...And only Knight and Middleton would need a new deal before that.

4. I just don't think we are bad enough to bottom out, without Bledsoe I think we could sniff 30 wins, with him I don't know, but that would be a great core going forward. If we underperform, you still end up with a solid pick.

Overall it is definitely a risk, but the exact kind of risk we should be taking.

[humanrefutation]

There's no way we're going to actively tank going into next season. None. The owners have too much invested in trying to build a buzz around the team. Losing next year - even if it nets a long term gain - won't help their short term goal of building enough support for a public contribution to an arena.

So, if we're going for it next year, Bledsoe would fit right in. He's the perfect mix of a win-now talent who's still young enough to be a long term piece as part of our core.

[htr]

Is Karasev enough of an inentive to take on Jack's contract? I was pretty high on Karasev and would like to add him. Jack should easily be able to be re-routed, if not immediately then at the deadline. Thoughts? I just noticed on my twitter timeline Woj mentioned he is available for taking on salary (likely Jack's).

[WRau1]

Where are the Bucks coming up with the money to make a max offer to Bledsoe? Are we going to have to dump two assets just to clear the way to dump more assets and a max contract to get Bledsoe here?

[Newz]

Bledsoe and Westbrook are pretty comparable.
Giannis & Harden are very different players, but make impacts in different ways.
Jabari & Durant could be comparable.

I am in way more of a wait and see mode with Giannis and Jabari, which is why I think we are jumping the gun by signing Bledsoe this offseason. Giannis DOES have the talent to be a very good/great NBA player... but let's see if he can even become a average NBA starter before we start thinking he's as good as James Harden. Jabari Parker does also have the talent to be a great NBA player, but let's see how he fares in one NBA game before we start hoping he's even close to Kevin Durant.

I just think that the way of building that would lead us to signing Bledsoe this year is going to make us end up falling short. Bledsoe is the type of guy you want to add when you are sold on your young core becoming great, not when they are both still completely unproven.

[M-C-G]

There's no way we're going to actively tank going into next season. None. The owners have too much invested in trying to build a buzz around the team. Losing next year - even if it nets a long term gain - won't help their short term goal of building enough support for a public contribution to an arena.

So, if we're going for it next year, Bledsoe would fit right in. He's the perfect mix of a win-now talent who's still young enough to be a long term piece as part of our core.

Yeah, this is where people need to disassociate "tanking" and "rebuilding" in my opinion. For too long they have been used interchangeably.

We are definitely in rebuild, which means we will play the young guys and generate excitement. Adding to that core is not a "win now" move as much as accelerating your rebuilding process.

[Ron Swanson]

I'm trying to understand how a PG who is a 19/5/5/ guy who is an efficient scorer with great defense isn't good enough for us to be "franchise changing".

No, he's not LeBron. But he's likely better than Marcus Smart at this point, other than the health issue that is legit.

People need to get out of their heads the idea that the odds favor us getting another Jabari in the 2015 draft. They don't. We'd have to purposely tank hard like Philly did, and even then maybe we get jammed down like Utah and Orlando did this past draft.

I think a lot of people are stuck with "OKC route" tunnel vision, and it's causing them to not consider the other successful models of franchise rebuilding, i.e. the Phoenix, Denver, Houston, or Indiana routes. Asset accumulation isn't just about tanking and selling off half your roster every year.

You have to use all the channels available to you in order to land a star or even "complementary star" player. So if you have the chance to add what you think could be your 3rd star, it shouldn't matter at all how you get him or how much you're paying him.

Houston "overpaid" for James Harden too. There's a reason why RFA forces teams to overpay to lure potential star talent away from their teams. That's how the system is supposed to work.

[eagle13]

I like Bledsoe a lot BUT he was injured much of last season and has a slight build so he may be susceptible to injury. There are very few players worth the max. To me you only give a player the max is if he has clearly earned it during his contract. I do not give the max based on dazzling potential. Unfortunately Bledsoe's contract is up when he has shown dazzling potential but does not have the consistent performance to earn it now. It would have been ideal had he one more year under contract to show what he would do but he doesn't. If there is one thing about Bucks past that drove me crazy was all the overpaid deals. I pass on the max and I suspect anything less than the max and the Suns won't S&T.

Lin – ONLY if we get NO's 1st with him.

[BuckFan25226]

I'm trying to understand how a PG who is a 19/5/5/ guy who is an efficient scorer with great defense isn't good enough for us to be "franchise changing".

No, he's not LeBron. But he's likely better than Marcus Smart at this point, other than the health issue that is legit.

People need to get out of their heads the idea that the odds favor us getting another Jabari in the 2015 draft. They don't. We'd have to purposely tank hard like Philly did, and even then maybe we get jammed down like Utah and Orlando did this past draft.

+1

I think too many on this board have now developed an addiction for hoarding lottery picks and tanking. Potentially, which is a scary word, we may have gotten the 2 best players from the past 2 drafts. We need to move on, and look to get better now. Whether we tank this year or try to make the playoffs, we're back to square one if Parker or Giannis don't become a star, and we're completely behind the 8 ball if neither of them amount to anything. If even one of them becomes a star, Bledsoe makes a ton of sense. He's already a budding star and at that point, you need to start surrounding those 3 with good role players. Depending how good Giannis and Parker become, you are probably another star away from a championship team. The advantage of rising to the top of the East quicker is being able to sign a high profile player which can put us over the top to contend for a title.

[EastSideBucksFan]

Bledsoe and Westbrook are pretty comparable.
Giannis & Harden are very different players, but make impacts in different ways.
Jabari & Durant could be comparable.

I am in way more of a wait and see mode with Giannis and Jabari, which is why I think we are jumping the gun by signing Bledsoe this offseason. Giannis DOES have the talent to be a very good/great NBA player... but let's see if he can even become a average NBA starter before we start thinking he's as good as James Harden. Jabari Parker does also have the talent to be a great NBA player, but let's see how he fares in one NBA game before we start hoping he's even close to Kevin Durant.

I just think that the way of building that would lead us to signing Bledsoe this year is going to make us end up falling short. Bledsoe is the type of guy you want to add when you are sold on your young core becoming great, not when they are both still completely unproven.

Wait and see doesn't make sense if you believe that Bledsoe's addition aids in the development of our other young players like Giannis & Jabari. (which I do)

Anybody who kept watching Bucks games last season saw what Sessions addition to our team did for the rest of our other players. He actually made the offense work and he got guys the ball where they needed it.

I think adding a point guard is critical and if Bledsoe is available and willing to come to Bucks, then we should sign him.

[Newz]

Bledsoe and Westbrook are pretty comparable.
Giannis & Harden are very different players, but make impacts in different ways.
Jabari & Durant could be comparable.

I am in way more of a wait and see mode with Giannis and Jabari, which is why I think we are jumping the gun by signing Bledsoe this offseason. Giannis DOES have the talent to be a very good/great NBA player... but let's see if he can even become a average NBA starter before we start thinking he's as good as James Harden. Jabari Parker does also have the talent to be a great NBA player, but let's see how he fares in one NBA game before we start hoping he's even close to Kevin Durant.

I just think that the way of building that would lead us to signing Bledsoe this year is going to make us end up falling short. Bledsoe is the type of guy you want to add when you are sold on your young core becoming great, not when they are both still completely unproven.

Wait and see doesn't make sense if you believe that Bledsoe's addition aids in the development of our other young players like Giannis & Jabari. (which I do)

Anybody who kept watching Bucks games last season saw what Sessions addition to our team did for the rest of our other players. He actually made the offense work and he got guys the ball where they needed it.

I think adding a point guard is critical and if Bledsoe is available and willing to come to Bucks, then we should sign him.

I personally disagree with that. You brought up Durant and Harden, both who developed without great PG play around them. Plenty of talent develops just fine without bringing in a big time PG to play with them. In addition, if they are going to be good, I'd prefer the ball to be in Giannis and Jabari's hands most of the time when they peak.

I can definitely see and respect the point of view you have on the rebuild, gathering assets, etc. I don't think it's a bad approach at all. It's just not the one I would take right now.

[skones]

I'm trying to understand how a PG who is a 19/5/5/ guy who is an efficient scorer with great defense isn't good enough for us to be "franchise changing".

No, he's not LeBron. But he's likely better than Marcus Smart at this point, other than the health issue that is legit.

People need to get out of their heads the idea that the odds favor us getting another Jabari in the 2015 draft. They don't. We'd have to purposely tank hard like Philly did, and even then maybe we get jammed down like Utah and Orlando did this past draft.

The question isn't whether he's "franchise changing" it's how much he, as a player, changes the course. I am of the opinion that he's a fringe all-star caliber player, not a perennial one, and you're going to pay the max for that without knowing what you have in Giannis or Parker. Making that type of commitment with the unknowns we have could potentially throw us back into the loop we've been stuck in for years.

It's not a matter of what the odds favor as far as the draft is concerned, it's about maintaining flexibility and maintaining upside instead of a move that could give you a low ceiling.

[Chapter29]

I'm trying to understand how a PG who is a 19/5/5/ guy who is an efficient scorer with great defense isn't good enough for us to be "franchise changing".

No, he's not LeBron. But he's likely better than Marcus Smart at this point, other than the health issue that is legit.

People need to get out of their heads the idea that the odds favor us getting another Jabari in the 2015 draft. They don't. We'd have to purposely tank hard like Philly did, and even then maybe we get jammed down like Utah and Orlando did this past draft.

No kidding. Plus if we think that we have slots 1 & 2 filled with Giannis and Parker he doesn't need to be a great player just really good. And really good he is.

There is no issue imo with offering him a large contract. Bledsoe is proven. It really comes down to our faith in our 2 kids.