Offseason Thread 6: The Not So Mexican Stand-off Continues

[LukasBMW]

If we trade him I want to trade him out of the conference. That way he can't torture us.

Knowing our luck, if we trade him, he becomes Russel Westbrook 2.0

But if we sign him, he blows out his knee and needs micro fracture surgery.

[Saberestar]

It is not really interesting, but there are not a lot of news out there so I will post that...

Now that Monroe has signed his QO, does Bledsoe follow suit?

It's a little trickier in Bledsoe's case because his QO is for nearly $2MM less, and he doesn't have the track record of health to fall back on that Monroe does. What happens if Bledsoe hurts his knee again this year? His offer from the Suns isn't as lucrative as what the Pistons were willing to give Monroe, however, so the sacrifice might be about the same in terms of money for this season. I wonder if the Pistons, who have a ton of cap space now, might float an offer Bledsoe's way. They don't have enough to give him the max, but they can come pretty close.

http://www.hoopsrumors.com/2014/09/hoop ... ct-14.html

[JDLAW]

It is not really interesting, but there are not a lot of news out there so I will post that...

Now that Monroe has signed his QO, does Bledsoe follow suit?

It's a little trickier in Bledsoe's case because his QO is for nearly $2MM less, and he doesn't have the track record of health to fall back on that Monroe does. What happens if Bledsoe hurts his knee again this year? His offer from the Suns isn't as lucrative as what the Pistons were willing to give Monroe, however, so the sacrifice might be about the same in terms of money for this season. I wonder if the Pistons, who have a ton of cap space now, might float an offer Bledsoe's way. They don't have enough to give him the max, but they can come pretty close.

http://www.hoopsrumors.com/2014/09/hoop ... ct-14.html

Old crap from Chuck Myron. I do not think anyone really knows what the Pistons were willing to give Monroe. There were reports of a near max deal, which Monroe denies. Monroe really wants out of Detroit and has for some time. Detroit does not have a ton of cap space. They have about $11.5 M - not enough.

[JDLAW]

The only thing that seems strange is why didn't he already sign the QO if this is the case?

Possibly because he doesn't want to and this whole situation is getting blown out of proportion. A lack of movement/ progress doesn't necessarily mean Bled is less inclined to want to play in PHX. Rumor mills go crazy when they get to play "fill in the blanks".

So true and Steven Kyler knows absolutely nothing.

[Sunsdeuce]

The only thing that seems strange is why didn't he already sign the QO if this is the case?

Possibly because he doesn't want to and this whole situation is getting blown out of proportion. A lack of movement/ progress doesn't necessarily mean Bled is less inclined to want to play in PHX. Rumor mills go crazy when they get to play "fill in the blanks".

So true and Steven Kyler knows absolutely nothing.

Yeah. I stopped following him on twitter because he doesn't give any good info. Basically everything is his opinion.


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[WTFsunsFTW]

We dont HAVE to extend the QO to Bledoe, right? We can just release him, lose his rights, and he becomes UFA.

No one can offer him more than we can anyway, even as an UFA.

Give him what he wants. We are going to lose him for nothing anyway, the only way he would agree to a S&T mid-season is for max dollars, and no one is going to give him that anywhere.

Then to even play next season he would have to take an offer less than anything we would have compromised on anyway!

[RunDogGun]

We dont HAVE to extend the QO to Bledoe, right? We can just release him, lose his rights, and he becomes UFA.

No one can offer him more than we can anyway, even as an UFA.

Give him what he wants. We are going to lose him for nothing anyway, the only way he would agree to a S&T mid-season is for max dollars, and no one is going to give him that anywhere.

Then to even play next season he would have to take an offer less than anything we would have compromised on anyway!

I would still extend the QO.

[JDLAW]

We dont HAVE to extend the QO to Bledoe, right? We can just release him, lose his rights, and he becomes UFA.

No one can offer him more than we can anyway, even as an UFA.

Give him what he wants. We are going to lose him for nothing anyway, the only way he would agree to a S&T mid-season is for max dollars, and no one is going to give him that anywhere.

Then to even play next season he would have to take an offer less than anything we would have compromised on anyway!

The QO expires on Oct 1. The Suns can extend a new one or not as they see fit. It does not affect their RFA rights. If he does not sign the QO before it expires, he negotiates a contract with the Suns or another team (Suns have right to match) or he sits out without pay. The Suns keep right to match. It would be a giant F-up to let the QO expire without taking it if he does not want to play in Phx.

In all likelihood, this will all end one way or another on Oct 1.

[Sunsdeuce]

We dont HAVE to extend the QO to Bledoe, right? We can just release him, lose his rights, and he becomes UFA.

No one can offer him more than we can anyway, even as an UFA.

Give him what he wants. We are going to lose him for nothing anyway, the only way he would agree to a S&T mid-season is for max dollars, and no one is going to give him that anywhere.

Then to even play next season he would have to take an offer less than anything we would have compromised on anyway!

The QO expires on Oct 1. The Suns can extend a new one or not as they see fit. It does not affect their RFA rights. If he does not sign the QO before it expires, he negotiates a contract with the Suns or another team (Suns have right to match) or he sits out without pay. The Suns keep right to match. It would be a giant F-up to let the QO expire without taking it if he does not want to play in Phx.

In all likelihood, this will all end one way or another on Oct 1.

Thanks for the explanation. Clears up a lot. I have a feeling some type of trade is going to come out of the blue. Typical Ryan Mcd fashion.


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[JDLAW]

Thanks for the explanation. Clears up a lot. I have a feeling some type of trade is going to come out of the blue. Typical Ryan Mcd fashion.

Deuce- I do not see a trade of Bledsoe. For better or worse I think he is a Sun next season. It is up to him if he is going to play for a little or a lot of $$.

What do you think Bledsoe would do if the Suns raised their offer to 4yrs and $64M? Would he sign or would he take to QO? If he took the QO under those circumstances, he and his agent would vilified throughout the NBA community as having an alternate agenda.

You could offer it tomorrow and tell Paul, this is all the money that will be available from the Suns and it is good for 48hrs. Then start to take some off the table every 24 hrs after the deadline. If he does not sign within 48 hrs you'll know that he has an agenda to leave, or that Paul and LeBron are using his little brother simply to make a point.

[Sunsdeuce]

Thanks for the explanation. Clears up a lot. I have a feeling some type of trade is going to come out of the blue. Typical Ryan Mcd fashion.

Deuce- I do not see a trade of Bledsoe. For better or worse I think he is a Sun next season. It is up to him if he is going to play for a little or a lot of $$.

What do you think Bledsoe would do if the Suns raised their offer to 4yrs and $64M? Would he sign or would he take to QO? If he took the QO under those circumstances, he and his agent would vilified throughout the NBA community as having an alternate agenda.

You could offer it tomorrow and tell Paul, this is all the money that will be available from the Suns and it is good for 48hrs. Then start to take some off the table every 24 hrs after the deadline. If he does not sign within 48 hrs you'll know that he has an agenda to leave, or that Paul and LeBron are using his little brother simply to make a point.

Not that I know the whole truth (because in typical media fashion, the whole truth is never reported (I know that first hand)) but from what I have read, the suns have attempted to get a sit down with Bledsoe. As reported, Bledsoe (and his crew) have not returned any calls or attempted to contact the suns.

What I am trying to say, is Bledsoe hasn't even given the suns an opportunity to give him a better offer. This tells me that Bledsoe indeed does have an alternate agenda.

But everything is open to interpretation.


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[kingstyyyle]

The only thing that seems strange is why didn't he already sign the QO if this is the case?

Possibly because he doesn't want to and this whole situation is getting blown out of proportion. A lack of movement/ progress doesn't necessarily mean Bled is less inclined to want to play in PHX. Rumor mills go crazy when they get to play "fill in the blanks".

I just don't see any reason to wait unless he's planning on signing an extension. Monroe already signed the QO if it's QO or max and it's obvious hes not getting max I don't really see any reason to wait besides hoping we change our mind but that doesn't seem smart sense he hasn't even talked to us. It's going to be interesting when Dragic comes back the the states and Bledsoe is the only Sun not at the work outs

[Christine-In-AZ]

Thanks for the explanation. Clears up a lot. I have a feeling some type of trade is going to come out of the blue. Typical Ryan Mcd fashion.

Deuce- I do not see a trade of Bledsoe. For better or worse I think he is a Sun next season. It is up to him if he is going to play for a little or a lot of $$.

What do you think Bledsoe would do if the Suns raised their offer to 4yrs and $64M? Would he sign or would he take to QO? If he took the QO under those circumstances, he and his agent would vilified throughout the NBA community as having an alternate agenda.

You could offer it tomorrow and tell Paul, this is all the money that will be available from the Suns and it is good for 48hrs. Then start to take some off the table every 24 hrs after the deadline. If he does not sign within 48 hrs you'll know that he has an agenda to leave, or that Paul and LeBron are using his little brother simply to make a point.

I'm not sure what my reaction would've been to this hypothetical scenario but what if...?

July 4th- Bledsoe issues a written statement to the press

"Money isn't nearly as important as is playing where I'd like to play, and or with certain players. The Phoenix Suns, my team mates, the coaching staff, the front office and the Suns fans have been great, but an NBA career is short and my desire is to play where I feel the most comfortable. The Suns have said they will match any offer sheet I get...so they're going to use the restricted free agency rules against me and I understand that. I'm asking that they find a sign and trade that works for me. If that doesn't happen, I will sign the qualifying offer despite the risks, play for the Suns next year, and then become an unrestricted free agent next summer so that I can play where I decide I want to play."

I wonder how something like that would have played across the NBA?

[JTrain]

Here's the only theory I can make sense of given the evidence:

He doesn't love playing with the Suns, but he would deal with it for a max offer. Since they won't offer max, his plan is to sign the QO and play somewhere else next season. But he doesn't want to make that known, since it would make for a very awkward season with his Suns teammates and the fans. So Rich Paul has tried to find a way to paint the Suns as the bad guys. This would allow Bledsoe to sign the QO without looking like the bad guy, and then he can put on a happy face and make it through the season before bolting.

[GoblinytE]

My mind has been all over the place on this...Suns Drama: Barkley's exit- McDyess being brainwashed by Lucas and Suns players standing outside in the snow not being let in- Kidd & his punching bag Wife- Joe Johnson & Amare's free agency- and now this. As fans we put alot of emotion in our comments but I have to remind myself that this is a poker game, it's business. They have until the 1st and if they can finally meet in 2 weeks and a half from now, its their right. I've thought about them meeting halfway like JDLaw stated 4yr 64mil...its not my money but i'd do it. Remember that Miami dinner with Pat Riley? I think Wade's knees are getting sketchier by the season. Could aquiring Bledsoe soften the blow a bit. That money would go to help get Dragic + Green who Jeff loves and the Morri signed. I think Eric wants that east shine where the major endorsements are at. Bledsoe-Wade-Deng-Bosh??? or he signs with us for 55-65 mil...players dont sweat the emotion of fans..we'll forgive if he puts up numbers which I think he will. I remember the uproar about the new suns jerseys and look...we shocked the nba and i never heard a peep, not on this board or social media. Im excited about this season and our future. I trust the leadership but man are tickets expensive. I think I rather save up for a 55' 1080p 120hz SamsungTV I'm eyeballing.

[SunsFanSSOL]

My mind has been all over the place on this...Suns Drama: Barkley's exit- McDyess being brainwashed by Lucas and Suns players standing outside in the snow not being let in- Kidd & his punching bag Wife- Joe Johnson & Amare's free agency- and now this. As fans we put alot of emotion in our comments but I have to remind myself that this is a poker game, it's business. They have until the 1st and if they can finally meet in 2 weeks and a half from now, its their right. I've thought about them meeting halfway like JDLaw stated 4yr 64mil...its not my money but i'd do it. Remember that Miami dinner with Pat Riley? I think Wade's knees are getting sketchier by the season. Could aquiring Bledsoe soften the blow a bit. That money would go to help get Dragic + Green who Jeff loves and the Morri signed. I think Eric wants that east shine where the major endorsements are at. Bledsoe-Wade-Deng-Bosh??? or he signs with us for 55-65 mil...players dont sweat the emotion of fans..we'll forgive if he puts up numbers which I think he will. I remember the uproar about the new suns jerseys and look...we shocked the nba and i never heard a peep, not on this board or social media. Im excited about this season and our future. I trust the leadership but man are tickets expensive. I think I rather save up for a 55' 1080p 120hz SamsungTV I'm eyeballing.

Bledsoe never met with Riley, that was Deng and the guy who took the pic got the 2 confused and admitted his mistake.

[SideSwipe]

We dont HAVE to extend the QO to Bledoe, right? We can just release him, lose his rights, and he becomes UFA.

No one can offer him more than we can anyway, even as an UFA.

Give him what he wants. We are going to lose him for nothing anyway, the only way he would agree to a S&T mid-season is for max dollars, and no one is going to give him that anywhere.

Then to even play next season he would have to take an offer less than anything we would have compromised on anyway!

The QO expires on Oct 1. The Suns can extend a new one or not as they see fit. It does not affect their RFA rights. If he does not sign the QO before it expires, he negotiates a contract with the Suns or another team (Suns have right to match) or he sits out without pay. The Suns keep right to match. It would be a giant F-up to let the QO expire without taking it if he does not want to play in Phx.

In all likelihood, this will all end one way or another on Oct 1.

I'm not positive on this, but is it a possibility that if the QO expires that the new contract PHX offers may not be as lucrative. Meaning if they let it expire, PHX can turn around and offer a 1 year vet min contract or the $48/4 contract. I don't think I've read anywhere where the new contract offer has to be the same as the contractually obligated QO offer. I think PHX has met the conditions of the CBA by extending the first offer on its terms. After that, the only prevailing claims on the contract would be vet mins. of his experience in the NBA. JD, any legal read out on that? Anyone else get that from Larry Coon's FAQ?

The net effect would be "take it or leave it". I'm not even sure they would have to extend another contract other than the multi-year one. If that's the case I think Paul and Co. get the QO signed by 10/1. 19 days from today (if you're in the U.S.)

[lilfishi22]

I strongly doubt that. We want to keep a channel of communication open because the current 48/4 offer we have on the table is decent value for a player like Bledsoe with his questionable knees. I don't see the point of lowering the offer because if we are doing that then we may as well rescind the offer altogether because it's basically a take it or leave it gesture anyway by lowering it.

If anything, after the QO expires, I think we are likely to try and get word to his camp that we are more willing to negotiate (up) since he would be one getting more desperate and our offer would look better and better.

[SideSwipe]

I strongly doubt that. We want to keep a channel of communication open because the current 48/4 offer we have on the table is decent value for a player like Bledsoe with his questionable knees. I don't see the point of lowering the offer because if we are doing that then we may as well rescind the offer altogether because it's basically a take it or leave it gesture anyway by lowering it.

If anything, after the QO expires, I think we are likely to try and get word to his camp that we are more willing to negotiate (up) since he would be one getting more desperate and our offer would look better and better.

I didn't clarify-I am not actually advocating lowering the offer, it's more a question of the rules of the CBA I guess. I actually think the main issue with what's happening right now with Bledsoe isn't in resigning Bledsoe, it's in signing any future free agents and making sure they will feel wanted and respected when they sign here or are traded here. Lowering the offer might draw more animosity to the situation.

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

I've become much more comfortable over recent days with the idea of letting eric hang by a thread (taking the qo).

You could see the season going so many different ways. Say the season doesn't go so hot for us (we're at around #8 in the conference). Well if we're not contending, we could deliver Eric on his QO at the deadline to a contender... at what I assume would be a very hefty price tag? I mean, most players available to elevate teams at the deadline aren't also young studs with loads of potential... how often does such a lucrative asset exist at that time of the year? And on that kind of money? The target team wouldn't even have to unload big contracts of their own to make room - just add a star! Eric would probably approve a trade to a contender, right?

When might he not approve a trade to a contender? Oh yeah. He thinks he can make more money by retaining his rights. Well to actualize that possibility, he would have to make a sign and trade deal happen with us the following summer, at a time when there may be more competition foor his services. I think this scenario is more likely if we're contending - with Eric leading the way.

I wonder if the perspective of our front office isn't: OK, if Eric takes the QO, we retain a potentially valuable trade asset. If he takes $12 million, he's a valuable trade asset. If he takes more than that - $15 or $16 million, he might not be very movable. If he suffers further injury, he could be dead weight. So, offer $12. Either way, we possess a valuable asset. And with Isaiah and Tyler ready to take Eric's PT, we're not at a loss for talent to develop.

Let the chips fall where they may!!!