The One And Only Offseason Thread 5: Dinnertime!

[carey]

Yet the other guy gets suspended for a joke billboard...

Le Batard got suspended?

Also, does anyone know where I can find a torrent or other video of the Suns vs. Timberwolves from March 23rd last year? The epic comeback game?

1st half
2nd half

What am I missing? Each link just has a list of a bunch of videos I can't make out the titles for many of them. Does the site not work in Chrome or do I have to be a member?

[JTrain]

Haha, so Amin from ESPN is getting butthurt that fans think LeBron heavily influenced the Love deal. Not sure why that bothers him so much. He called a fan ignorant as f*** on twitter

Yet the other guy gets suspended for a joke billboard...

he gets offended because he knows the truth. He is close with members of the Cle front office.

Why would that offend him?

[gaspar]

Le Batard got suspended?

Also, does anyone know where I can find a torrent or other video of the Suns vs. Timberwolves from March 23rd last year? The epic comeback game?

1st half
2nd half

What am I missing? Each link just has a list of a bunch of videos I can't make out the titles for many of them. Does the site not work in Chrome or do I have to be a member?

You probably have to be a member. Registration is free.

[JTrain]

Other insiders like Simmons and that fat guy have been very clear that Lebron does have a ton of influence.

[Christine-In-AZ]

This 8/6 inquiry was orphaned before answered on the last off season thread. Figured I should try again.

...He had a team that wanted to offer him a big payday. We used the rules and they backed off. The market shrunk. He should be butthurt. We cost him millions…

Who was this mystery team? And please explain why you aren't telling us which team wanted Bledsoe at his number?

I don't understand why this unspecified team didn't at least leak it out that they wanted to give Bledsoe a big payday...or certainly Rich Paul for that matter. The oft used line against Paul’s management has been "no team was willing to offer Bledsoe what he’s asking". Leak and let live/grow.

Again, what team was willing to pay Bledsoe's asking price? Why wouldn’t they have had Bledsoe sign this lucrative offer sheet? Where’s the negative for either that team or Bledsoe?

Why is (was) this tidbit so cloak and dagger that it received no press whatsoever? Nothing.

[JDLAW]

This 8/6 inquiry was orphaned before answered on the last off season thread. Figured I should try again.

...He had a team that wanted to offer him a big payday. We used the rules and they backed off. The market shrunk. He should be butthurt. We cost him millions…

Who was this mystery team? And please explain why you aren't telling us which team wanted Bledsoe at his number?

I don't understand why this unspecified team didn't at least leak it out that they wanted to give Bledsoe a big payday...or certainly Rich Paul for that matter. The oft used line against Paul’s management has been "no team was willing to offer Bledsoe what he’s asking". Leak and let live/grow.

Again, what team was willing to pay Bledsoe's asking price? Why wouldn’t they have had Bledsoe sign this lucrative offer sheet? Where’s the negative for either that team or Bledsoe?

Why is (was) this tidbit so cloak and dagger that it received no press whatsoever? Nothing.

It is not released because this information has to, by its very nature come from Bledsoe's camp, and if it is released as an anonymous it is not subject to denial. It will likely never be revealed for two reasons 1) there is no certainty that the Suns knew any information about who Bled/Paul was negotiating with and even if they did know it is not in their interests to release it, and 2) if Paul releases the info and it is denied, he looks incompetent and it confirms the market is not what he wants it to be.

[RunDogGun]

Maybe that team was also shooting for one of the big named FAs, and didn't want to tie up the cap money with an offer?

But it would be nice to know said team, and/or why Paul didn't leak said info.

[RunDogGun]

This 8/6 inquiry was orphaned before answered on the last off season thread. Figured I should try again.

...He had a team that wanted to offer him a big payday. We used the rules and they backed off. The market shrunk. He should be butthurt. We cost him millions…

Who was this mystery team? And please explain why you aren't telling us which team wanted Bledsoe at his number?

I don't understand why this unspecified team didn't at least leak it out that they wanted to give Bledsoe a big payday...or certainly Rich Paul for that matter. The oft used line against Paul’s management has been "no team was willing to offer Bledsoe what he’s asking". Leak and let live/grow.

Again, what team was willing to pay Bledsoe's asking price? Why wouldn’t they have had Bledsoe sign this lucrative offer sheet? Where’s the negative for either that team or Bledsoe?

Why is (was) this tidbit so cloak and dagger that it received no press whatsoever? Nothing.

It is not released because this information has to, by its very nature come from Bledsoe's camp, and if it is released as an anonymous it is not subject to denial. It will likely never be revealed for two reasons 1) there is no certainty that the Suns knew any information about who Bled/Paul was negotiating with and even if they did know it is not in their interests to release it, and 2) if Paul releases the info and it is denied, he looks incompetent and it confirms the market is not what he wants it to be.

Paul wouldn't have to leak it, with his name attached to it. With how fickle twitter and other bull social media outlets, having rumors that a team was willing to pay Bledsoe the max, even without naming said team, could give him and his client more room for negotiations.

[Christine-In-AZ]

This 8/6 inquiry was orphaned before answered on the last off season thread. Figured I should try again.

...He had a team that wanted to offer him a big payday. We used the rules and they backed off. The market shrunk. He should be butthurt. We cost him millions…

Who was this mystery team? And please explain why you aren't telling us which team wanted Bledsoe at his number?

I don't understand why this unspecified team didn't at least leak it out that they wanted to give Bledsoe a big payday...or certainly Rich Paul for that matter. The oft used line against Paul’s management has been "no team was willing to offer Bledsoe what he’s asking". Leak and let live/grow.

Again, what team was willing to pay Bledsoe's asking price? Why wouldn’t they have had Bledsoe sign this lucrative offer sheet? Where’s the negative for either that team or Bledsoe?

Why is (was) this tidbit so cloak and dagger that it received no press whatsoever? Nothing.

It is not released because this information has to, by its very nature come from Bledsoe's camp, and if it is released as an anonymous it is not subject to denial. It will likely never be revealed for two reasons 1) there is no certainty that the Suns knew any information about who Bled/Paul was negotiating with and even if they did know it is not in their interests to release it, and 2) if Paul releases the info and it is denied, he looks incompetent and it confirms the market is not what he wants it to be.

I'm asking Traxxe, who says he knows.

[Christine-In-AZ]

NotTraxxe wrote:
...He had a team that wanted to offer him a big payday. We used the rules and they backed off. We cost him millions…

He makes it pretty clear that the Suns knew of an offer and reacted to it

[JTrain]

Bledsoe doesn't want to stay in Phoenix.

Do you have any insight into why this is or how it came about? Was it just a matter of him not liking the trade here and waiting to get out the whole time, or was it due to some development(s) during the season?

[JDLAW]

This 8/6 inquiry was orphaned before answered on the last off season thread. Figured I should try again.




Who was this mystery team? And please explain why you aren't telling us which team wanted Bledsoe at his number?

I don't understand why this unspecified team didn't at least leak it out that they wanted to give Bledsoe a big payday...or certainly Rich Paul for that matter. The oft used line against Paul’s management has been "no team was willing to offer Bledsoe what he’s asking". Leak and let live/grow.

Again, what team was willing to pay Bledsoe's asking price? Why wouldn’t they have had Bledsoe sign this lucrative offer sheet? Where’s the negative for either that team or Bledsoe?

Why is (was) this tidbit so cloak and dagger that it received no press whatsoever? Nothing.

It is not released because this information has to, by its very nature come from Bledsoe's camp, and if it is released as an anonymous it is not subject to denial. It will likely never be revealed for two reasons 1) there is no certainty that the Suns knew any information about who Bled/Paul was negotiating with and even if they did know it is not in their interests to release it, and 2) if Paul releases the info and it is denied, he looks incompetent and it confirms the market is not what he wants it to be.

Paul wouldn't have to leak it, with his name attached to it. With how fickle twitter and other bull social media outlets, having rumors that a team was willing to pay Bledsoe the max, even without naming said team, could give him and his client more room for negotiations.

The point is that if your put a name out there, and the team denies it, it hurts Paul's and Bledsoe's position. Lets say he leaks it out that it was the Lakers and the Lakers deny it. Where does that put Paul - in a worse place than if it was anonymous. If he puts a name out there and the team confirms it, it helps Paul and Bledsoe because it makes the Suns look like they have prevented Bedsoe from getting market value.

I simply do not buy the notion that the Suns blocked a higher offer than the one they have on the table by threatening to tie up cap space for an additional 2 days. If this were the case, Paul shouting it from the rooftops would only help his cause and turn public sentiment agains the Suns' position. It would certainly be more effective than leaking disgruntlement out to the public through some hack in Portland.

I am not saying NotTraxxe is making this stuff up, I am questioning whether he would have access to such detailed information.

[Christine-In-AZ]

Earlier on Wednesday from NotTraxxe:

Bledsoe doesn't want to stay in Phoenix. But he will for a 'max' or very near max deal.

If Bledsoe had a max or near max offer from this unidentified team, why didn't he sign it and get his big payday? Why did this team that wanted Bledsoe at full ticket price pull the offer back? Why not test the Suns considering the large difference between the two offers?

[JTrain]

Earlier on Wednesday from NotTraxxe:

Bledsoe doesn't want to stay in Phoenix. But he will for a 'max' or very near max deal.

If Bledsoe had a max or near max offer from this unidentified team, why didn't he sign it and get his big payday? Why did this team that wanted Bledsoe at full ticket price pull the offer back? Why not test the Suns considering the large difference between the two offers?

I believe it was Traxxe in an earlier thread that said Bledsoe rejected a near-max offer from another team because he wanted more.

[SSOL]

Other insiders like Simmons and that fat guy have been very clear that Lebron does have a ton of influence.

Simmons is not an insider and neither is coat tail riding Windhorst. Amin worked hand in hand with Cleveland's GM. Who do you believe?

[Zelaznyrules]

Actually from what I understand if he's traded on the QO the team that gets him will NOT have bird rights. If he's traded on the QO it would be for pennies on the dollar value wise. If he does the unthinkable and takes the QO best case is he takes a leap and becomes a no brainer max contract guy and the suns benefit by being able to give the 5th yr and more money than he could get on the open market.

I'll have to double check that. From my understanding bird rights are always traded with the player.

He loses his Bird rights which is why he can't be traded on the QO without his approval.

[Saberestar]

Great read on Brightsideofthesun.com, includes interesting news about Dragic and an offer from Indiana in the last week...

In other news, Goran is aware of the Pacers offer coming after the PG injury and as far as he knows the Suns won't be taking it. Of course he doesn't want a new environment, especially now he has a kid. He knows the city, has friends and family there and wouldn't want a trade now. But he also realizes it's the NBA and he is not yet at a level where he would be the one making that decision. Hearing a good team like Indiana wants him feels pretty good though.

Based on Goran's answer it's an entirely new offer that came in after PG's injury.
I actually thought that quote might be quite interesting to Suns fans since it was a direct offer which was confirmed by Goran. According to Goran the trade offer was

Hibbert, Copeland and some cash.
Quite peculiar,.. not just the "some cash" part.

Here’s the link to his quote,…
http://www.ekipa24.si/clanek/kosarka/re ... dbd/dragic

http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2014/ ... -in-2-more

[JDLAW]

Earlier on Wednesday from NotTraxxe:

Bledsoe doesn't want to stay in Phoenix. But he will for a 'max' or very near max deal.

If Bledsoe had a max or near max offer from this unidentified team, why didn't he sign it and get his big payday? Why did this team that wanted Bledsoe at full ticket price pull the offer back? Why not test the Suns considering the large difference between the two offers?

I believe it was Traxxe in an earlier thread that said Bledsoe rejected a near-max offer from another team because he wanted more.

So what is near max? The most he can be offered for the next season is $14.7M. We have offered him $12M. That is near max also. When you're getting up in this area, everything is near max. If he rejected a contract from another team who, lets say offered him $13.5M, + 4.5% raises because he wanted more, that's kind of incredible. If a team was willing to go to $13.5M, why would they not go all the way to $14.7M? We are talking small increments here. So if you believe this, another team was willing to go above what the Suns offered but below the max amount it could offer and it was rejected because Bledsoe/Paul wanted more.

It is likely somewhat true, but there is no confirming report of this from any team and no revelation as to what team was willing to do this near-max contract.

Keep in mind that at the start of free agency, the market for Bledsoe was quite small. There were only a handful of teams that had the cap space and needed a point guard. One dropped out (Orl) when they got Payton. The Lakers seemed like a candidate, but they wanted to give 2 year deals because they had their sights set on James and Anthony in the short term and Durant, Westbrook and Love in the slightly longer term. Putting Bledsoe on a high dollar and long term (4yr) contract was likely not in the Lakers' interest. Milwaukee never truly had the cap space (it needed a sign and trade) and Parker's signing along with others wiped out what space they had. Houston had the cap space, but their interested were elsewhere (James, Anthony and Bosh). Miami after James' departure? Possible, but they resigned Bosh and Wade to large contracts and their cap space was marginal at best. Utah had space but no need. Dal spent their cap on Parsons. Sac had no space. Atl never showed an iota of reported interest in Bledsoe.

These are the candidates ladies and gentlemen. Which one made made the max offer than pulled it? I cannot figure this one out.

[Christine-In-AZ]

Earlier on Wednesday from NotTraxxe:

Bledsoe doesn't want to stay in Phoenix. But he will for a 'max' or very near max deal.

If Bledsoe had a max or near max offer from this unidentified team, why didn't he sign it and get his big payday? Why did this team that wanted Bledsoe at full ticket price pull the offer back? Why not test the Suns considering the large difference between the two offers?

I believe it was Traxxe in an earlier thread that said Bledsoe rejected a near-max offer from another team because he wanted more.

Keep in mind that at the start of free agency, the market for Bledsoe was quite small. There were only a handful of teams that had the cap space and needed a point guard. One dropped out (Orl) when they got Payton. The Lakers seemed like a candidate, but they wanted to give 2 year deals because they had their sights set on James and Anthony in the short term and Durant, Westbrook and Love in the slightly longer term. Putting Bledsoe on a high dollar and long term (4yr) contract was likely not in the Lakers' interest. Milwaukee never truly had the cap space (it needed a sign and trade) and Parker's signing along with others wiped out what space they had. Houston had the cap space, but their interested were elsewhere (James, Anthony and Bosh). Miami after James' departure? Possible, but they resigned Bosh and Wade to large contracts and their cap space was marginal at best. Utah had space but no need. Dal spent their cap on Parsons. Sac had no space. Atl never showed an iota of reported interest in Bledsoe.

These are the candidates ladies and gentlemen. Which one made made the max offer than pulled it? I cannot figure this one out.

"NotTraxxe ...please pick up the nearest white courtesy telephone."

[ShawnBronald]

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