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

[drewsprocket]

I'm not interested in watching Bledsoe gun for himself and hang stats just to try and prove that he's a max guy. It would be nice to win. It's pretty clear how entitled he is if he takes the QO.
I'll be surprised if he plays next season and takes us deep into the playoffs. I think it'll be weird in terms of chemistry.

[BurningHeart]

It seems like Eric Bledsoe is quite the cocksmooch.

[Sunsdeuce]

It seems like Eric Bledsoe is quite the cocksmooch.

I wish he would just man up and say hey please trade me. No he has to act like a 3 year old and not face the situation he created. He deserves every boo that he IS going to get if he is still on the suns when the season starts. Make no mistake, he is going to get booed hard and loud.

Also the current suns players will say everything politically correct on record when asked about Bledsoe. But make no mistake, the lockerroom will want nothing to do with him.

At this point the best and only thing to do for the suns organization (and especially for Bledsoe) is to trade him now.

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[drewsprocket]

If he signs QO then we're entering uncharted territory. Players wanting max money don't go for the qualifying offer. I suppose you could count Ben Gordon a while back. It's a different move than we've seen before. I understand a player wanting to prove to his team he's worth good money but trying to demand max money is ridiculous. Deuce is right, nobody is going to come out and say it's weird or anything wrong. But I'm pretty sure the team thinks Bledsoe is acting above everyone else given how his injury held everyone back.

There's a stark difference between Pippen who long toiled under a longterm underpaid deal than Bledsoe who puts out half a season and thinks he deserves John Wall money.

If Bledsoe were trying for a higher offer, I think he would have already sat down to squeeze out a few more million just to earn good will and save face over the whole ordeal. This is altogether showing indifference and being rigid.

[Nando88]

I'd start Isaiah and bring bledsoe off the bench as Goran's backup but still have Gerald be the first guard off the bench just to spite eric if he signs the QO. He has no future here, why let him pad his stats.


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[DirtyDez]

I'd start Isaiah and bring bledsoe off the bench as Goran's backup but still have Gerald be the first guard off the bench just to spite eric if he signs the QO. He has no future here, why let him pad his stats.


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The more EB plays the better we are. McD/Horny wouldn't go for that.

[Saberestar]

Good interview with Paul Coro.
Begins at 41 minutes.
http://www.sports360az.com/?powerpress_ ... 64-podcast

[drewsprocket]

I'd start Isaiah and bring bledsoe off the bench as Goran's backup but still have Gerald be the first guard off the bench just to spite eric if he signs the QO. He has no future here, why let him pad his stats.


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The more EB plays the better we are. McD/Horny wouldn't go for that.

Except Bledsoe's not trying to accomplish anything as a sun other than make money. Look how Stephenson derailed the pacers last year. This isnt baseball where you can just go after your stats and get paid. Basketball is a team oriented game and very dynamic sport based on team chemistry.

[lilfishi22]

I'd start Isaiah and bring bledsoe off the bench as Goran's backup but still have Gerald be the first guard off the bench just to spite eric if he signs the QO. He has no future here, why let him pad his stats.


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The more EB plays the better we are. McD/Horny wouldn't go for that.

+1

We're too professional and addicted to winning to do something that petty out of spite.

[lilfishi22]

I'd start Isaiah and bring bledsoe off the bench as Goran's backup but still have Gerald be the first guard off the bench just to spite eric if he signs the QO. He has no future here, why let him pad his stats.


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The more EB plays the better we are. McD/Horny wouldn't go for that.

Except Bledsoe's not trying to accomplish anything as a sun other than make money. Look how Stephenson derailed the pacers last year. This isnt baseball where you can just go after your stats and get paid. Basketball is a team oriented game and very dynamic sport based on team chemistry.

If he isn't good for chemistry and his production doesn't translate to team success then Horny will bench him naturally. If Bledsoe is on the roster, whether on the QO or on a new deal, Horny isn't going to come into Game #1 with prejudice. THese guys are pros and they are paid to be pros.

[DirtyDez]

I'd start Isaiah and bring bledsoe off the bench as Goran's backup but still have Gerald be the first guard off the bench just to spite eric if he signs the QO. He has no future here, why let him pad his stats.


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The more EB plays the better we are. McD/Horny wouldn't go for that.

Except Bledsoe's not trying to accomplish anything as a sun other than make money. Look how Stephenson derailed the pacers last year. This isnt baseball where you can just go after your stats and get paid. Basketball is a team oriented game and very dynamic sport based on team chemistry.

Lance derailed the Pacers by having his best season? I think you mean Hibbert...

Bledsoe has no reason to tank next year. It makes zero sense for so many reasons.

[SlovenianDragon]

Why should we start Bledsoe when he isn't going to be a part of our future?

IT and Dragic should start and Bledsoe should come off the bench.

This has nothing to do with giving Bledsoe less playing time in spite. Its to improve the future of our team.

We need to build chemistry around IT and Dragic if that's going to be our future starting duo. Why delay that development a year?

Our team wont be any worse by starting IT over Bledsoe. And it will help in the long run for our starting guards chemistry. PLUS Bledsoe might demand a trade and we can ship him out instead of losing him for nothing.

Not starting Bledsoe is a win, win, win. Starting Bledsoe is a lose.

[BurningHeart]

It's in Bledsoe's best interest to both play well on the court and "play well" with his teammates. For that reason alone, it'll be fine.

The problem is that we *know* he's a "hired" gun, that his heart isn't here, etc. It's impossible to truly root for a guy who isn't truly a part of the Phoenix Suns.

That's the biggest obstacle.

[Blackification]

Why should we start Bledsoe when he isn't going to be a part of our future?

IT and Dragic should start and Bledsoe should come off the bench.

This has nothing to do with giving Bledsoe less playing time in spite. Its to improve the future of our team.

We need to build chemistry around IT and Dragic if that's going to be our future starting duo. Why delay that development a year?

Our team wont be any worse by starting IT over Bledsoe. And it will help in the long run for our starting guards chemistry. PLUS Bledsoe might demand a trade and we can ship him out instead of losing him for nothing.

Not starting Bledsoe is a win, win, win. Starting Bledsoe is a lose.

Trade value? The better Bledsoe plays and the more time he gets to show his worth the more we can get out of him in a trade.

I don't expect him to last very long on the team if he signs the QO. Aren't the percentages very low that a player will re-sign with the team after signing the QO? McD will know better than to risk it. Give him heavy minutes then ship him out in a month or two.

[SlovenianDragon]

Why should we start Bledsoe when he isn't going to be a part of our future?

IT and Dragic should start and Bledsoe should come off the bench.

This has nothing to do with giving Bledsoe less playing time in spite. Its to improve the future of our team.

We need to build chemistry around IT and Dragic if that's going to be our future starting duo. Why delay that development a year?

Our team wont be any worse by starting IT over Bledsoe. And it will help in the long run for our starting guards chemistry. PLUS Bledsoe might demand a trade and we can ship him out instead of losing him for nothing.

Not starting Bledsoe is a win, win, win. Starting Bledsoe is a lose.

Trade value? The better Bledsoe plays and the more time he gets to show his worth the more we can get out of him in a trade.

I don't expect him to last very long on the team if he signs the QO. Aren't the percentages very low that a player will re-sign with the team after signing the QO? McD will know better than to risk it. Give him heavy minutes then ship him out in a month or two.

I thought that if Bledsoe does take the QO that we cant trade him unless HE wants to be traded.

Any1 know the rules on this?

[Blackification]

Why should we start Bledsoe when he isn't going to be a part of our future?

IT and Dragic should start and Bledsoe should come off the bench.

This has nothing to do with giving Bledsoe less playing time in spite. Its to improve the future of our team.

We need to build chemistry around IT and Dragic if that's going to be our future starting duo. Why delay that development a year?

Our team wont be any worse by starting IT over Bledsoe. And it will help in the long run for our starting guards chemistry. PLUS Bledsoe might demand a trade and we can ship him out instead of losing him for nothing.

Not starting Bledsoe is a win, win, win. Starting Bledsoe is a lose.

Trade value? The better Bledsoe plays and the more time he gets to show his worth the more we can get out of him in a trade.

I don't expect him to last very long on the team if he signs the QO. Aren't the percentages very low that a player will re-sign with the team after signing the QO? McD will know better than to risk it. Give him heavy minutes then ship him out in a month or two.

I thought that if Bledsoe does take the QO that we cant trade him unless HE wants to be traded.

Any1 know the rules on this?

I think he would have to approve the trade, but if he doesn't want to be here I don't see him denying too many trade options. Unless he is really dumb enough to force his way into Cleveland and be their 4th best player.

I think Bledsoe has that mentality where he wants to play for a big market like LA and get paid at the same time. Probably comes from lebrons camp. So he will either want to get traded to a big market team or he will have to play on a team where he can be the man with big minutes and prove he deserves a max contract and then leave and sign in the off season.

He won't get minutes to prove he is worth the max on this team especially when he will be sharing the ball with another PG every time he is on the floor.

[SlovenianDragon]

Because of the name of this thread I will leave this here for your enjoyment:
Bledsoe, Rich Paul, and the Suns.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHQr0HCIN2w[/youtube]

[NBA Fiend]

The paradox play him like an animal to up his trade value knowing full well he will not be here beyond this year. Play him sparse minutes and it will be another poor me situation. First the suns used Rfa against me, now they won't play me forget about drugs and alcohol the Phoenix suns have ruined my life. The only way out of this bledsoe signs a two year deal with a option for a third. If he signs the qo trade him asap. There is no reason to fight for the playoffs with bledsoe playing a vital role when he will be gone after this year. Lock up the Morris bros with that money. Build chemistry with players who will be together for several years. Once again if he signs the qo I can't envision anything other than a swap for waiters.

[Christine-In-AZ]

Left with lemons? I choose to make good lemonade or Your bitter won't make it better

If it does come to pass that Bledsoe accepts the QO, I hope he is treated no differently than any other player on the roster this year. Moreover, if I was Sarver, I would tell Eric that “while I'm disappointed in his decision, I can respect it”...and I'd mean it. I would make it absolutely clear to the entire organization, the press and the fan base that Eric Bledsoe is Suns family until he isn't.

I'd expect and I'd certainly hope he would be given all the opportunity (Read:Hornacek's Plan) to help the Suns win games, no differently than any other player on an expiring contract. Just because his future with the Suns will be uncertain after this year, it will provide little, and probably do harm assuming he will leave for sure. It's a projection by many of you that Bledsoe "doesn't want to play for the Suns". His "handlers" have a strategy to either get the max now, or get to UFA ASAP. A dumb plan or not, Phoenix ain't why it's happening. This "strategy" would likely have been deployed virtually anywhere EB had played last season. Yes! There were probably a few NBA locale exceptions for an easier contract accepting, but the point is, it's not about Phoenix...the Suns. Stop taking it personally. I doubt the Suns FO is taking it that way.

If I haven't angered or alienated you EB detractors/haters yet, I probably will now...

If I was Sarver, and was faced with a "QO'd Bledsoe", in addition to what I wrote above, I'd give Eric a huge in season bonus (CBA legal?) if he performs anywhere near the EB of last year. The Suns would actually be getting a tremendous bargain (3.7m vs.12m), and an unexpected year to not only gauge Bledsoe's where-with-all, but further evaluation of his suspect knee via this QO. If Eric '14-'15 plays ala '13-'14 I'm (playing owner again) giving him like a 2 million dollar bonus at some point during the season. The Suns have his Bird rights and can offer him more, and more years than anyone else come next summer. Giving Eric an unexpected huge, justified bonus wouldn't be a bad move. Again, he doesn't hate PHX...it's just business. He will consider resigning with the Suns, especially if he is treated with respect. I don't know where the Suns are as far as the salary floor, but a large EB bonus might be the best and most constructive way to achieve it.

Go ahead and hate on Bledsoe if he goes QO, but if the Suns do (which I doubt) it will be making dumb even dumber.

[Saberestar]

It was too much strange....now it is clear....

SH Blog: Rockets Honored Agreement With Dwight Howard’s Agent Letting Chandler Parsons Out Of Contract

Read more at http://www.sheridanhoops.com/2014/09/19 ... kxfr1BF.99