The One And Only Offseason Thread 3

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

@PaulCalvisi: #Suns Update, per @Chris_Broussard: Suns & Bledsoe "remain far apart in contract talks, according to sources close to the situation."

Awe, things are coming out now. Bledsoe hasn't proven anything yet demanding. Im already tired of this guy. Let the bucks over pay.

If that's the case, a S&T would seem like a real possibility, no?

Honestly, I'd think a lot of teams would be excited about the opportunity to add Bledsoe - most of them in the east. We should be interested in draft picks because, frankly, there aren't a whole lot of excellent fits out there, and we are exceedingly young.

[spanishninja]

It doesn't appear he has much leverage at this point. Sort of frustrating that he's playing hard ball like this.

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How long does he plan to keep this up I wonder?

[bhawk]

BAAAD Offseason so far for Bledsoe...

Here is a guy that was cagey, aloof and non-committal last season because he was posturing for a BIG payday. The result so far is NO SOUP FOR YOU!

Where did he go wrong?

1) Bad agent advice.
2) Aligning with Lebron's agent has hurt him and he had to wait for Lebron decision.
3) Lebron relationship has done him NO FAVORS. Seriously, if they are buds, why isn't Cleveland calling?
4) He underestimated his injury.
5) He overestimated the market for PGs. No offers from other teams.
6) Suns have been masterful with Isaiah Thomas signing. Insurance and set the market low for Bledsoe.

Bottom Line: There is no max offer in sight for Bledsoe and he is looking at an offer from the Suns which is significantly under what he expected.

What next?

1) He signs for 4 @ 44M with the Suns and is happy / thankful about it.
2) He signs for 4 @ 44M with the Suns and pouts all season.
3) He signs for 4 @ 44M with the Suns and fakes an injury.
4) He takes the qualifying offer and becomes unrestricted next season. VERY risky with knees.
5) Sign and Trade still possible? Maybe?

I'm not sure what to make of the situation. This is a guy who has yet to say that he wants to be here long term.

I don't believe the market improves for Bledsoe. Let's say he takes the QO. That means he plays as a Sun next year as a PG on a team with 2 other really GOOD Point Guards. He may not be the best player on the Suns next year and that will NOT help his value as a UFA. Also, what if he gets injured?

The guy is in a bad, bad place right now and this situation may not end well.

Question: Can he hold out?

[JTrain]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought the three teams mentioned in the article don't have max space. If he goes to Milwaukee for an extra 1 or 2 million a year he is very likely to regret it. It's his right but I don't see him looking back in 4-5 years and thinking the extra Ferrari in his garage was worth leaving such a good situation.

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[RaisingArizona]

Man, it's hard to believe he isn't happy with a 40 million dollar deal.

[Sunsdeuce]

Signing Bledsoe to a max contract and than his knees go out. That would set this team back years. Let him go. Sign and trade him for the best offer. If Greg Monroe (+some other pieces) for bledsoe is on the table, you take it and run.

[Barkley6]

I think the Suns negotiating tactic all along has been "this is our offer, either accept it, or go sign an offer sheet for more and then we'll talk about upping our offer."

Bledsoe's team has been trying to negotiate the Suns offer up, while being unable to secure an offer sheet.

Since no one can offer him the max, he's almost guaranteed to be a Suns player next year. I don't think there is any amount of pouting he can do that won't hurt him as a player in the long term. Look at what happened to Lance Stephenson for his behavior that was thought to be a detriment to the team. If Bledsoe pouts he's going to seriously hurt his market value down the road.

Suns have the upper hand here. His agent has done him no favors.

[Sunsdeuce]

BAAAD Offseason so far for Bledsoe...

Here is a guy that was cagey, aloof and non-committal last season because he was posturing for a BIG payday. The result so far is NO SOUP FOR YOU!

Where did he go wrong?

1) Bad agent advice.
2) Aligning with Lebron's agent has hurt him and he had to wait for Lebron decision.
3) Lebron relationship has done him NO FAVORS. Seriously, if they are buds, why isn't Cleveland calling?
4) He underestimated his injury.
5) He overestimated the market for PGs. No offers from other teams.
6) Suns have been masterful with Isaiah Thomas signing. Insurance and set the market low for Bledsoe.

Bottom Line: There is no max offer in sight for Bledsoe and he is looking at an offer from the Suns which is significantly under what he expected.

What next?

1) He signs for 4 @ 44M with the Suns and is happy / thankful about it.
2) He signs for 4 @ 44M with the Suns and pouts all season.
3) He signs for 4 @ 44M with the Suns and fakes an injury.
4) He takes the qualifying offer and becomes unrestricted next season. VERY risky with knees.
5) Sign and Trade still possible? Maybe?

I'm not sure what to make of the situation. This is a guy who has yet to say that he wants to be here long term.

I don't believe the market improves for Bledsoe. Let's say he takes the QO. That means he plays as a Sun next year as a PG on a team with 2 other really GOOD Point Guards. He may not be the best player on the Suns next year and that will NOT help his value as a UFA. Also, what if he gets injured?

The guy is in a bad, bad place right now and this situation may not end well.

Question: Can he hold out?

Hold out for what. There isnt many teams (if any) that are going to give him what he wants. Holding out just makes him lose money.

40 games at 17 PPG 5 ASTs does not equal max contract.

[sunsbum]

The positive about this offseason. It looks as if Bledsoe will be around for at most - 12m per season. Possibly Dragic comes back at 13m per season -give or take. That's not bad for two players just ready to take off in the NBA for the next half dozen years.

With the Laker pick, other picks, Morris twins, Len, Plumlee, Green, Thomas, Tucker - the Suns have a deep roster that will - if need be creates trade opportunities for that "third player" with Eric and Goran.

Ryan McD - awesome hire

Sarver - just please continue to let Ryan and Lon know what to spend and get the bleep out of their way. Thank you

I think Sarver deserves A LOT more credit than that. Are you going to hold it agains Gerald Green for being an absolute scrub for his first 8 years? It's a learning process for a "green" (no pun intended) owner too. Cut the guy some slack. As I've said before, for better or worse Sarver has ALWAYS tried to keep this team relative and competitive.

[BobbieL]

@PaulCalvisi: #Suns Update, per @Chris_Broussard: Suns & Bledsoe "remain far apart in contract talks, according to sources close to the situation."

Awe, things are coming out now. Bledsoe hasn't proven anything yet demanding. Im already tired of this guy. Let the bucks over pay.

If that's the case, a S&T would seem like a real possibility, no?

Honestly, I'd think a lot of teams would be excited about the opportunity to add Bledsoe - most of them in the east. We should be interested in draft picks because, frankly, there aren't a whole lot of excellent fits out there, and we are exceedingly young.

Two things:
1) its Broussard - he is horrible
2) Suns have the leverage hear - find a better deal.

[sunsbum]

"Far Apart". Well he's not worth far apart. This guy is delusional.

[TheXgasm]

Everyone is assuming he's pouting and throwing a fit and being a jerk about this. I don't see why - his agent is trying to maximize the contract, there's no need to rush into one with the Suns, they have the faint glimmer that some other team might still try to give him the max.

Waiting doesn't hurt him, it doesn't hurt us, and it doesn't make him some crybaby villain. If he comes out and says or acts like he doesn't want to be here at any point then fine, let's label him a jerk and move on with it, but right now both sides are playing the game. The Suns just have the advantage right now. No big deal.

[WeekapaugGroove]

Everyone is assuming he's pouting and throwing a fit and being a jerk about this. I don't see why - his agent is trying to maximize the contract, there's no need to rush into one with the Suns, they have the faint glimmer that some other team might still try to give him the max.

Waiting doesn't hurt him, it doesn't hurt us, and it doesn't make him some crybaby villain. If he comes out and says or acts like he doesn't want to be here at any point then fine, let's label him a jerk and move on with it, but right now both sides are playing the game. The Suns just have the advantage right now. No big deal.

well said. No need to freak out suns fans; this is a negotiation of course both sides will posture to get the best deal they can. It's not uncommon for the process to drag out with restricted free agents.

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[Sunsdeuce]

Everyone is assuming he's pouting and throwing a fit and being a jerk about this. I don't see why - his agent is trying to maximize the contract, there's no need to rush into one with the Suns, they have the faint glimmer that some other team might still try to give him the max.

Waiting doesn't hurt him, it doesn't hurt us, and it doesn't make him some crybaby villain. If he comes out and says or acts like he doesn't want to be here at any point then fine, let's label him a jerk and move on with it, but right now both sides are playing the game. The Suns just have the advantage right now. No big deal.

No one said anything close to that. But sure.

[SunZel]

Sign and trade Bledsoe for Rose.

[JTrain]

When do practices start back up?

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[TheXgasm]

Everyone is assuming he's pouting and throwing a fit and being a jerk about this. I don't see why - his agent is trying to maximize the contract, there's no need to rush into one with the Suns, they have the faint glimmer that some other team might still try to give him the max.

Waiting doesn't hurt him, it doesn't hurt us, and it doesn't make him some crybaby villain. If he comes out and says or acts like he doesn't want to be here at any point then fine, let's label him a jerk and move on with it, but right now both sides are playing the game. The Suns just have the advantage right now. No big deal.

No one said anything close to that. But sure.

Fair enough, it was a bit of hyperbole on my part. Here's what is being said:

"Man, it's hard to believe he isn't happy with a 40 million dollar deal."

" I don't think there is any amount of pouting he can do that won't hurt him as a player in the long term."

"Here is a guy that was cagey, aloof and non-committal last season because he was posturing for a BIG payday. The result so far is NO SOUP FOR YOU"

""Far Apart". Well he's not worth far apart. This guy is delusional."


So maybe I was a bit overboard, but it already seems like multiple people are painting him as greedy or stupid already.

[sunsbum]

I just speak the truth, it's going to take an argument from God himself to convince me he deserves a penny more than Lowery.

[Sunsdeuce]

Everyone is assuming he's pouting and throwing a fit and being a jerk about this. I don't see why - his agent is trying to maximize the contract, there's no need to rush into one with the Suns, they have the faint glimmer that some other team might still try to give him the max.

Waiting doesn't hurt him, it doesn't hurt us, and it doesn't make him some crybaby villain. If he comes out and says or acts like he doesn't want to be here at any point then fine, let's label him a jerk and move on with it, but right now both sides are playing the game. The Suns just have the advantage right now. No big deal.

No one said anything close to that. But sure.

Fair enough, it was a bit of hyperbole on my part. Here's what is being said:

"Man, it's hard to believe he isn't happy with a 40 million dollar deal."

" I don't think there is any amount of pouting he can do that won't hurt him as a player in the long term."

"Here is a guy that was cagey, aloof and non-committal last season because he was posturing for a BIG payday. The result so far is NO SOUP FOR YOU"

""Far Apart". Well he's not worth far apart. This guy is delusional."


So maybe I was a bit overboard, but it already seems like multiple people are painting him as greedy or stupid already.

Gotcha. My opinion is 40 games as a starter isnt worth more than Gorans current contract. Add to that the knee issues. This oozes Amare/Marcus Banks. Im all for sign and trade. Maybe get a big and some more picks.

Im pretty sure the money is more important to Bledsoe "right now" than the situation. Meaning as long as he is getting paid he doesnt care where he plays. I mean I could be wrong but I doubt it.

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

I just speak the truth, it's going to take an argument from God himself to convince me he deserves a penny more than Lowery.

*Lowry.* I am tired of seeing that extra "e." It's in like 80% of the Lowry posts around here. It's a fungus that keeps spreading. Kill it!!

... I do think we'll end up keeping Bledsoe for less than $12m/per, though I'd be happy to throw in kickers for ASG, All-NBA, All-Defense, stuff like that. There just doesn't appear to be a S&T possibility that makes sense (that is to say, I don't think the Bucks will give us their draft pick next year. That's what I waaaaant foo!).