Bucks looking at Bledsoe, probably.

[dedned]

I'd like to see how this team plays with Kidd as the coach before we go adding max contracts.

[Badgerlander]

http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2014/3/27/5 ... oenix-suns

The offensive efficiency from this lineup sits at a strong 107.1, but the defensive rating is what really shines when looking over the numbers. They hold opponents to 94.8 points per 100 possessions.

94. Point. 8.

Defense is a five-man task, but having Bledsoe matchup against opposing team's ball-handlers was a great way to improve on an individual level. This allows Dragic to float on the perimeter while Bledsoe works against the opposing ball-handler. The Suns have defensive options in their backcourt with this lineup, allowing Jeff Hornacek a chance to control matchups.

This lineup is also a very dangerous transition group with two ball-handlers, plenty of speed and three-point threats in P.J. Tucker and Channing Frye. This has been a very good lineup that could use more time together, and the Suns' front office will have to keep the success they found with Dragic and Bledsoe in mind when considering their future with Bledsoe this summer.

Phoenix held opponents to 94.8pts/100 with a lineup of Eric Bledsoe, Goran Dragic, PJ Tucker, Channing Frye, and Miles Plumlee.

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/eric- ... king-suns/

This guy picked up a ton from Chris Paul, and he has even added a Steve Nash–style quick-release one-handed gather and layup this season. Bledsoe has all the off-the-dribble tricks — hesitations, crossovers, fakes toward a pick, and even that very CP3 tendency to use his ass as a weapon in creating space. He can see all the classic pick-and-roll passes and make them on time. It’s not all there yet; the turnovers are high, and the Tony Parker–style tear-drop is still a work in progress. His jumper is better, but he needs time to set his feet, and defenders feel comfortable going under screens against him. Still: He has put up very good pick-and-roll numbers this season, both as a scorer and a distributor, per Synergy Sports

[Chapter29]

I'd like to see how this team plays with Kidd as the coach before we go adding max contracts.

Why? There are several teams still that don't even have HC's should they not sign anyone then either? If Kidd isn't any good, we kick him out and try another. Now if Kidd says don't do this until he gets a feel for the talent and the potential of Wolters, that I could understand.

For me its about adding talent. Bledsoe is talent and in a strong area of need. I would be against it 100% if he was any older as clearly we want him to be around and playing well 2 and 3 years from now when our 2 kids really start hitting their stride.

Talent is talent and we need it badly. The only issue IMO with FA is having to overpay, especially if you're the Bucks, so you can only use FA so often. You must draft well. We've got our guys to get behind from the draft, in a couple of years we will know how that worked out.

[dedned]

I'd like to see how this team plays with Kidd as the coach before we go adding max contracts.

Why? There are several teams still that don't even have HC's should they not sign anyone then either? If Kidd isn't any good, we kick him out and try another. Now if Kidd says don't do this until he gets a feel for the talent and the potential of Wolters, that I could understand.

For me its about adding talent. Bledsoe is talent and in a strong area of need. I would be against it 100% if he was any older as clearly we want him to be around and playing well 2 and 3 years from now when our 2 kids really start hitting their stride.

Talent is talent and we need it badly. The only issue IMO with FA is having to overpay, especially if you're the Bucks, so you can only use FA so often. You must draft well. We've got our guys to get behind from the draft, in a couple of years we will know how that worked out.

Because Drew was so god damn awful. I'd like to see what we actually have before we go adding expensive pieces to it.

[Bfinkish]

Any concrete news yet or are we just continuing to speculate.

[skones]

Talent is talent and we need it badly. The only issue IMO with FA is having to overpay, especially if you're the Bucks, so you can only use FA so often. You must draft well. We've got our guys to get behind from the draft, in a couple of years we will know how that worked out.

Right. So don't handcuff yourself before you have any idea of what they are.

[htr]

Do we have the salary room to absorb both Jack and Lin? I'd be open to that if we could get Karasev and Capella too. Then I guess we'd have a bit of a roster crunch (unless Capella stays overseas). Maybe Hammound can work his magic and alleviate some of the vets he signed last off season. But these are two opportunities we could take advantage of together at a somewhat need position that wouldn't really hurt the tank (that is more likely than Bledsoe) while getting us some nice assets along the way. No brainer to me.

[LUKE23]

If I thought we would realistically land a better guard than Bledsoe in the next few years, I'd be against making the move, but I don't think we will. I don't think we are top 5 bad again for the 2015 draft for clear reasons already stated, and we definitely won't be top 5 bad the year after. Next years draft is horrendous for guards. Next years FA class is horrendous for guards and the ones that are desirable will be much older than Bledsoe is now. It's a move that is worth making.

[averageposter]

How many of these teams waiting on the big guys will turn their attention toward Bledsoe once those dominoes fall?

[shaolin34]

If I thought we would realistically land a better guard than Bledsoe in the next few years, I'd be against making the move, but I don't think we will. I don't think we are top 5 bad again for the 2015 draft for clear reasons already stated, and we definitely won't be top 5 bad the year after. Next years draft is horrendous for guards. Next years FA class is horrendous for guards and the ones that are desirable will be much older than Bledsoe is now. It's a move that is worth making.

Agreed. Even if Parker and Giannis turn this franchise around, I really don't see us being a big-time free agent destination. We can either go after free agents like this or get stuck bidding for 2nd tier (or worse) free agents. I think every one of us rather spend $13 million on Bledsoe vs Mayo/Zaza.

[Chapter29]

Talent is talent and we need it badly. The only issue IMO with FA is having to overpay, especially if you're the Bucks, so you can only use FA so often. You must draft well. We've got our guys to get behind from the draft, in a couple of years we will know how that worked out.

Right. So don't handcuff yourself before you have any idea of what they are.

So you're handcuffed by getting a young all-star caliber guy when you have a rookie at the position?

Disagree.

[Badgerlander]

4 years $63 million is hardly franchise crippling

[[MIKE C]]

There's no way we're going to actively tank going into next season. None. The owners have too much invested in trying to build a buzz around the team. Losing next year - even if it nets a long term gain - won't help their short term goal of building enough support for a public contribution to an arena.

So, if we're going for it next year, Bledsoe would fit right in. He's the perfect mix of a win-now talent who's still young enough to be a long term piece as part of our core.

Yeah, this is where people need to disassociate "tanking" and "rebuilding" in my opinion. For too long they have been used interchangeably.

We are definitely in rebuild, which means we will play the young guys and generate excitement. Adding to that core is not a "win now" move as much as accelerating your rebuilding process.

Completely agree with this. Adding a promising young PG like Bledsoe fits in perfectly with the rebuild plan, it doesn't matter if we don't obtain him through the draft, he still fits this roster as a young core piece. As long as the Bucks just play the young guys and take the lumps with their inexperience, the losses will still be there this year and we'll still have a decent enough draft pick. But this team isn't tanking. Lasry and Edens won't actively try to lose games. And this team with or without Bledsoe will not be top three pick bad again this year. If the opportunity is there now to add a quality young player like Bledsoe you grab it. Let Kidd start working with him and see what happens.

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

If I thought we would realistically land a better guard than Bledsoe in the next few years, I'd be against making the move, but I don't think we will. I don't think we are top 5 bad again for the 2015 draft for clear reasons already stated, and we definitely won't be top 5 bad the year after. Next years draft is horrendous for guards. Next years FA class is horrendous for guards and the ones that are desirable will be much older than Bledsoe is now. It's a move that is worth making.

Yep. Getting Bledsoe probably doesn't get us into the playoffs next year, but we will not get into the top 5 (unless we win the lottery with poor odds). This scenario is actually ok because by getting Bledsoe we no longer need a PG of the future (like Mudiay-who'd be out of reach), but we could probably use some front court help and next year's draft could be the best big man draft in a generation, so we'd be able to get a very good big man in the back half of the lottery. Then you have a core of Bledsoe, Giannis, Parker, and 2015 big man, with a supporting cast of Sanders, Middleton, Wolters etc. I really, really like that team going forward.

[Rockmaninoff]

Interesting company to say the least...

[ReasonablySober]

4 years $63 million is hardly franchise crippling

Seriously. A max contract just isn't that big a deal anymore, particularly when you're signing someone else's free agent.

[skones]

Interesting company to say the least...

Oh please. Remember when You could do the same thing with Mo Williams numbers?

[Kerb Hohl]

4 years $63 million is hardly franchise crippling

Seriously. A max contract just isn't that big a deal anymore, particularly when you're signing someone else's free agent.

Agreed. This is why I'd be in favor of offering to him. Bledsoe may be as good as we can get. What better use would the money have in the interim? You could argue absorbing other teams' big contracts, but we are a bit strapped even for that right now thanks to Herb.

I also get the tank angle but I also agree that we won't be that bad again.

[JayMKE]

if Bledsoe puts us in the playoffs next year then so be it. He'd be doing it with a pair of teenagers as his running mates. Would be an amazing accomplishment for our team.

[BobbyLight]

Because Drew was so god damn awful. I'd like to see what we actually have before we go adding expensive pieces to it.

You can more than likely trade Bledsoe unless he remains an injury concern, even if he's getting max money.

I'm on the fence because I am kinda with Newz. Where are we at as a franchise? We really don't know what we have with Kidd, Giannis and Parker. No idea if Henson stops eating Chipotle, if Sanders removes head from ass or if Knight plays well off the ball (better than on it, no doubt).

But then there is Luke's point, what better is coming along? Nothing, probably. We'd have to get lucky in all the wrong ways to get a top 5 pick next year imo.

So go balls to the walls and get Bledsoe here. That's my overall conclusion. You can get rid of him in a trade if it's a disaster (which I can't see), a lot of money comes off the books after next year so it's not like his deal kills us and the guys up for extensions in Bledsoe's contract window would be affordable with Mayo, Zaza, etc. off the books. Jabari and Giannis extensions come after Bledsoe's 4 year deal (I think, on Giannis). We need to take the risk because the bottom line is, I can't see where it provide this team a great deal of pain rebuilding for the future. It has the potential to be a far greater positive than any negative way you can spin it.