Bledsoe and tucker

[Antoniov23]

UPDATE: The suns just extended qualifying offers to Bledsoe and tucker!


This means that they are now restricted and the suns can match any offer which means they will probably keep both unless both players accept the qualifying offers which would make them unrestricted free agents next season

[Miklo]

Do you have a link/source? I believe it, but just want to include that in the thread.

Thanks!

[Antoniov23]

Do you have a link/source? I believe it, but just want to include that in the thread.

Thanks!

Yeah it's team stream/bleacher report

http://bleacherreport.com/tb/ddpjK

[ShawnBronald]

I also posted the tweet in the Official FA thread a while back.

[GreekAlex]

Is Bledsoe expecting a Max contract?

[bwgood77]

Is Bledsoe expecting a Max contract?

I doubt he's expecting but obviously he is hoping.

[GreekAlex]

Is Bledsoe expecting a Max contract?

I doubt he's expecting but obviously he is hoping.

The potential is there but it's tough to commit so much to a player who's hasn't even started a full seasons worth of games.

What do you suspect his market value will be? And will the Suns match anything knowing that G. Dragic is locked in at a reasonable rate and there are other needs?

[bwgood77]

Is Bledsoe expecting a Max contract?

I doubt he's expecting but obviously he is hoping.

The potential is there but it's tough to commit so much to a player who's hasn't even started a full seasons worth of games.

What do you suspect his market value will be? And will the Suns match anything knowing that G. Dragic is locked in at a reasonable rate and there are other needs?

There really are not THAT many teams that need point guards AND have cap space. The Lakers are about the only one (and Miami now I guess). The Lakers will make their pitch to LeBron and Melo first because they (could) have enough cap space to possibly sign both. I don't think Melo and LeBron will sign there so then they will look elsewhere (I suppose there is about a 1% chance LeBron would go to LA if they got Bledsoe (a lot of people here think he first and foremost wants to play with who they deem his best buddy to be) but that's doubtful too. It's looking like LeBron will stay in Miami since all his teammates are taking less money and he advocated they draft Napier.

For the Lakers though, it all depends on who else they want to sign and whether or not they want to have cap space to try and sign Love (or LeBron again if he has another out) next summer. For them to sign one of those guys next summer, the only way they can give Bledsoe a max offer is if they give everyone else one year deals, because they will need to clear everyone off the books to fit in Love/LeBron besides Kobe and Bledsoe. So there are many variables. I'd be kind of surprised if they gave him the max for this combination of reasons. But if they strike out with all other names they are going after, perhaps they'd go ahead and do it.

I am unsure on the rules on whether or not Miami can offer him a big contract and then re-sign their big three to go over the cap. If they CAN do this, that's bad. I'm guessing they can't and I also imagine they want to use the space they create wisely by adding shooters which is what they really need to spread the floor (with Miller gone which hurt them in the finals, Allen maybe gone, Battier probably gone, etc)

Then I guess there is Dallas. I am unsure of how much cap space they will have but after trading Calderon they could use a PG. I don't know if they want to offer a max though.

So I really wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't get a big offer at all, and the Suns can just sign him for a reasonable deal ($10-11 million a year).

If he does get a max offer, I'm pretty sure they would match, but I don't know the details of how they feel about his knee and whether he is worth it. But I also can't really imagine them letting him walk for nothing.

[JDLAW]

Miami cannot sign Bledsoe and then go over the cap to sign the "big 3". They have large cap holds on all three so they cannot sign anyone. Once the cap holds are released either by signing the big 3 at a lower cap number or releasing the cap holds, Miami is essentially hard capped at the cap limit + the room exception. They will have some room under the cap, but it will not be enough to extend a max offer to anyone.

I have been saying that from a practical standpoint Dallas does not have the cap room to make a max salary offer to Bledsoe. It has about $40M in commitments and out of the remaining $23 it will still have to sign Dirk as well as any free agents. Unless Dirk is willing to take $7M there is no way they can offer a max to Bledsoe.

The only team with a PG need that can offer a max is the Lakers. I do not think they go there.

[bwgood77]

Miami cannot sign Bledsoe and then go over the cap to sign the "big 3". They have large cap holds on all three so they cannot sign anyone. Once the cap holds are released either by signing the big 3 at a lower cap number or releasing the cap holds, Miami is essentially hard capped at the cap limit + the room exception. They will have some room under the cap, but it will not be enough to extend a max offer to anyone.

I have been saying that from a practical standpoint Dallas does not have the cap room to make a max salary offer to Bledsoe. It has about $40M in commitments and out of the remaining $23 it will still have to sign Dirk as well as any free agents. Unless Dirk is willing to take $7M there is no way they can offer a max to Bledsoe.

The only team with a PG need that can offer a max is the Lakers. I do not think they go there.

Yeah, I didn't look into the Dallas situation. I knew they had some cap space but probably not enough since Dirk said he would take a paycut, but I doubt it would be to add max space to add someone making more than him.

I figured the same about Miami and agree with you on the Lakers.

[JDLAW]

If you'll recall, you and I looked at the landscape and we had a discussion a month or two ago about this and we thought Orlando might be interested, but I made the case that they would not make a max offer for Bledsoe. Eventually you agreed. Now with the draft playing out the way it did, I doubt Orlando will have any interest.

There remain a couple of teams that could drive the price up like the Lakers, but I think we are seeing the market present itself for Bledsoe at about $10-12M max.

[Revived]

I'm not a fan of giving him the max but I would rather overpay him than lose him to the Lakers.

Bledsoe-Randle duo could end up being a legitmate Kentucky threat in the future.

[bwgood77]

If you'll recall, you and I looked at the landscape and we had a discussion a month or two ago about this and we thought Orlando might be interested, but I made the case that they would not make a max offer for Bledsoe. Eventually you agreed. Now with the draft playing out the way it did, I doubt Orlando will have any interest.

There remain a couple of teams that could drive the price up like the Lakers, but I think we are seeing the market present itself for Bledsoe at about $10-12M max.

Yeah, I thought Orlando was the only other possibility, but only if they didn't take a pg in the draft with one of their first two picks. I think they will go ahead and start Payton now alongside Oladipo and let them grow. I think they only have about $35 million or so on the books next year plus whatever their rookies make (if they waive Jameer Nelson) and it's possible they want a vet pg too.

But they are going to have to spend about $20 million to hit the salary floor unless they just want that shortfall distributed to their players. But of course as we all know, just having the cap space is valuable so they can be a dumping ground for unwanted salaries and can pick up picks/good players to be that dumping ground.

[JDLAW]

If you'll recall, you and I looked at the landscape and we had a discussion a month or two ago about this and we thought Orlando might be interested, but I made the case that they would not make a max offer for Bledsoe. Eventually you agreed. Now with the draft playing out the way it did, I doubt Orlando will have any interest.

There remain a couple of teams that could drive the price up like the Lakers, but I think we are seeing the market present itself for Bledsoe at about $10-12M max.

Yeah, I thought Orlando was the only other possibility, but only if they didn't take a pg in the draft with one of their first two picks. I think they will go ahead and start Payton now alongside Oladipo and let them grow. I think they only have about $35 million or so on the books next year plus whatever their rookies make (if they waive Jameer Nelson) and it's possible they want a vet pg too.

But they are going to have to spend about $20 million to hit the salary floor unless they just want that shortfall distributed to their players. But of course as we all know, just having the cap space is valuable so they can be a dumping ground for unwanted salaries and can pick up picks/good players to be that dumping ground.

I agree, but I think they keep Nelson around for a year as a veteran presence. They will have a lot of cap room.

[bwgood77]

If you'll recall, you and I looked at the landscape and we had a discussion a month or two ago about this and we thought Orlando might be interested, but I made the case that they would not make a max offer for Bledsoe. Eventually you agreed. Now with the draft playing out the way it did, I doubt Orlando will have any interest.

There remain a couple of teams that could drive the price up like the Lakers, but I think we are seeing the market present itself for Bledsoe at about $10-12M max.

Yeah, I thought Orlando was the only other possibility, but only if they didn't take a pg in the draft with one of their first two picks. I think they will go ahead and start Payton now alongside Oladipo and let them grow. I think they only have about $35 million or so on the books next year plus whatever their rookies make (if they waive Jameer Nelson) and it's possible they want a vet pg too.

But they are going to have to spend about $20 million to hit the salary floor unless they just want that shortfall distributed to their players. But of course as we all know, just having the cap space is valuable so they can be a dumping ground for unwanted salaries and can pick up picks/good players to be that dumping ground.

I agree, but I think they keep Nelson around for a year as a veteran presence. They will have a lot of cap room.

Oh, I forgot to edit my post....but that $35 million on the books is including their rookies (but not Nelson). I looked it up after posting the sentence where I was unsure. I guess it does make some sense to keep Nelson, but they may just want the cap space. And if they are ready to start trying to make the playoffs, I still don't think it's inconceivable to offer Bledsoe big money. Outside of their guards, most of the rest of their roster will be in their third season.

They'd really have nothing to lose offering Bledsoe money and could just use Payton as a backup for now. I don't think there is a very good chance they do that though, but they are the other team along with the Lakers who have the ability to if they want. They were rumored to like him before we got him and are obviously thin at guards if they want to waive Nelson.

But if they want this young team to grow together it doesn't make much sense to take playing time away from Payton and to have him be a backup for four years if they'd like him to grow into a starting role as soon as possible. Makes sense to save the cap space in case they have other needs or assess later down the road what they need.

[JDLAW]

I think your comments are astute. I agree ORL could make an offer, but I don't think it will. They will have a couple of contracts coming up in the future - their center and a couple of their forwards. Making an offer for Bledsoe and getting him puts a big lump in their cap for the future. Most in Orlando are stating that they are not going to make a big splash in free agency this year.

[x-]

Much much money do you think it'll take to pry away P.J. Tucker from y'all?

Full MLE? More?

[DirtyDez]

Much much money do you think it'll take to pry away P.J. Tucker from y'all?

Full MLE? More?

The full MLE is nearly 4/23. That would guarantee you PJ Tucker.

[x-]

Much much money do you think it'll take to pry away P.J. Tucker from y'all?

Full MLE? More?

The full MLE is nearly 4/23. That would guarantee you PJ Tucker.

Thanks.

I'm guessing that if the Rockets won't land any superstar via cap space, they'll try to upgrade their roster via trade and MLE.
Tucker very well could be a target, given that wing defense is a major need and the fact that there aren't a whole lot of 3&D guys out there.

Seems as if both Suns and Rockets might prefer Ariza to Tucker:

The Rockets, Mavericks, Pistons, Clippers and Suns are all expected to pursue Ariza once free agency opens on July 1, according to sources.

... but I'm guessing Ariza will get money than the full MLE, so I easily could see the Rockets spend a great deal of their MLE, if not all of it, on Tucker.

How high would you guys go to keep Tucker in Phoenix, if you don't mind me asking?

[bwgood77]

Much much money do you think it'll take to pry away P.J. Tucker from y'all?

Full MLE? More?

The full MLE is nearly 4/23. That would guarantee you PJ Tucker.

Thanks.

I'm guessing that if the Rockets won't land any superstar via cap space, they'll try to upgrade their roster via trade and MLE.
Tucker very well could be a target, given that wing defense is a major need and the fact that there aren't a whole lot of 3&D guys out there.

Seems as if both Suns and Rockets might prefer Ariza to Tucker:

The Rockets, Mavericks, Pistons, Clippers and Suns are all expected to pursue Ariza once free agency opens on July 1, according to sources.

... but I'm guessing Ariza will get money than the full MLE, so I easily could see the Rockets spend a great deal of their MLE, if not all of it, on Tucker.

How high would you guys go to keep Tucker in Phoenix, if you don't mind me asking?

Personally I think we definitely match a MLE offer for Tucker. I think we'd go a little higher. It also depends on what the market ends up being for guys like Deng and Ariza. If people are offering them both $10 million or more, than they would probably go up to at least 7 on Tucker. If Ariza's market is closer to Tucker, I am unsure who they'd rather have. But Tucker is in many ways the heart and glue guy on the team, so chemistry has to be an important factor. Theoretically they could match Tucker and go after Ariza or Deng if they don't get a big name, especially if they think that would give them more pieces they could deem expendable in a possible mid season Love trade.