Bledsoe & Butler for Dudley

[phrazbit]

I think Dragic had more than two solid standalone performances when we gave him that contract. He was coming of a star calibre second half as a starter for Houston - that's nearly a consistent half a season.

Bledsoe has had what, 20 games as a starter? during which I don't think he averaged anywhere near what Dragic did. Nor were the Clippers as successful as the Rockets during that run.

So if you want to give Bledsoe an extension based purely on what he has done, compared to what we gave Dragic on what he has done, Bledsoe would be getting less than Dragic. However, this is the NBA, and players get paid on potential, so he'll likely get at least what Goran got. I don't agree with it, but that's just the way it is.

But to argue Bledsoe has proven more at this stage than Dragic at the time of his contract is asinine.

I dont think people are saying he has done MORE, but IMO its comparable, Dragic had only 28 games as a starter. The point is Bledsoe is 3 years younger than Dragic was at the time he was extended and many feel he has a significantly larger upside. If you can lock him in at the rate Dragic is making (that of an average starter) IMO its a bargain.

[bwgood77]

I know Bledsoe definitely has some elite athleticism and great defensive skills. However, I haven't seen him play enough to really gauge how good I think he can be. I've seen some respectable sportswriters say they think he will be exposed a bit if/when he becomes a starter, and others that think he has a bright future.

It's a tough situation because you don't want to lock in a ton of money and years to a guy that is potentially the type of guy that would never start on a playoff team, but you also don't want to watch him get a huge offer sheet and be forced to match or let him walk for nothing.

I just hope we see him turn into either an elite scorer and/or playmaker. Because investing a ton of money into short defensive specialists in the NBA can be a risky proposition.

Then again, it's not like we have much for alternatives. I do wonder what he would fetch in a trade though.

[SunZel]

Bledsoe interview...

http://www.pros2preps.com/2013/07/eric- ... -the-suns/

[bwgood77]

Bledsoe interview...

http://www.pros2preps.com/2013/07/eric- ... -the-suns/

Well I'm glad he looks at that way. Hopefully he watches vintage KJ video and emulates him offensively (he's probably not seen much, if any KJ video since he wasn't even born when KJ started playing for the Suns).

It's interesting that they are almost exactly the same size (though Bledsoe has the extra 10 lbs of muscle), and also that we got KJ midway through his rookie year, but he had gone to college for four years, so he was in his fifth post high school year when we got him and he blew up into an immediate scoring and assist machine and averaged 20/12 the next year.

KJ never averaged more than 6 assists in college, but look what he started doing around April 9th, a little over a month after we traded for him as a rookie.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... elog/1988/

Now we get Bledsoe in his fifth year post high school, so hopefully he can blow up in a similar manner.

Part of the reason KJ blew up was because of Cotton's system, and I imagine Hornacek is going to run one very similar. It's also interesting that although KJ averaged 12.2 apg his second year, Hornacek averaged 6.7 apg....how crazy is that? He had averaged 8.7 apg the year before (sound like what Dragic could do?)

[jcsunsfan]

Bledsoe interview...

http://www.pros2preps.com/2013/07/eric- ... -the-suns/

Well I'm glad he looks at that way. Hopefully he watches vintage KJ video and emulates him offensively (he's probably not seen much, if any KJ video since he wasn't even born when KJ started playing for the Suns).

It's interesting that they are almost exactly the same size (though Bledsoe has the extra 10 lbs of muscle), and also that we got KJ midway through his rookie year, but he had gone to college for four years, so he was in his fifth post high school year when we got him and he blew up into an immediate scoring and assist machine and averaged 20/12 the next year.

KJ never averaged more than 6 assists in college, but look what he started doing around April 9th, a little over a month after we traded for him as a rookie.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... elog/1988/

Now we get Bledsoe in his fifth year post high school, so hopefully he can blow up in a similar manner.

Part of the reason KJ blew up was because of Cotton's system, and I imagine Hornacek is going to run one very similar. It's also interesting that although KJ averaged 12.2 apg his second year, Hornacek averaged 6.7 apg....how crazy is that? He had averaged 8.7 apg the year before (sound like what Dragic could do?)

Kevin was delivering assists at an excellent rate in Cleveland. What he got with the Suns was a starters role and minutes.

[bwgood77]

Kevin was delivering assists at an excellent rate in Cleveland. What he got with the Suns was a starters role and minutes.

Excellent for a rookie at 6.7 per 36, but after the trade to Phx it went up to 10.1 and was at that level or higher for four more years until Barkley's arrival.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... ske02.html

Eric Bledsoes has hovered between 5 and 6 assists per 36 in his three years, so he's not that far off from where KJ was in Cleveland.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... ser01.html

[rsavaj]

Good read on extending Bledsoe: http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2013/ ... c-bledsoes

[Revived]

Good read on extending Bledsoe: http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2013/ ... c-bledsoes

Yea thanks for posting that, it was indeed a good read.

A lot of good info.

I'm now convinced that we shouldn't give Bledsoe anything more than $8M/yr contract, $9M tops.

But the author of the article should have also included Eric Gordon in his "disgruntled RFAs" column

[gaspar]

How come no one is discussing Butler? I would think he should be a starter if he stays. Is there talk of trading him?

I expect Caron Butler to play for the Suns as many games as Brad Miller last year.

[g105rick]

its a shame dudley never got a max contract here. he deserved it. i would be very concerned to be a star here. im not sure bledsoe is the answer for duds

[TASTIC]

its a shame dudley never got a max contract here. he deserved it. i would be very concerned to be a star here. im not sure bledsoe is the answer for duds

Ummm...green font?

Surely you don't think Dudley is a max guy?

[WTFsunsFTW]

So this turned out to be Dudley and a 2nd rounder for Bledsoe, Ish Smith, Kratskovwtf, and enough cap space to swallow the beasley pill. This leaves like 38 people on our roster and hopefully enough crap to trade for a polished turd.

[rsavaj]

Studying Bledsoe's Film

Part 1: http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2013/ ... -bledsoe-1
Part 2: http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2013/ ... -bledsoe-2