The One And Only Offseason Thread 4

[SSOL]

Of course it's about money. It has nothing to do with the Suns. Most players in the league only care about money. The team is secondary. Here, Bledsoe is merely playing chicken with the Suns. The problem is the Suns can afford to wait longer than Bledsoe. In the end, Bledsoe will be a Sun. I truly feel the Suns are willing to match a max offer for Bledsoe, they just aren't going to offer it themselves. Why would they? It's more, "Hey Eric, go out, get your offer and bring it back to us. Or, sign for this contract number with us right now." Thus far, Bledsoe hasn't been able to find that offer and as the market dries, the Suns' chances of getting a good to great player on a fair deal increases. I don't see Bledsoe signing the QO, too great of a risk.

[jcsunsfan]

Lakers offer doesn't make any sense for us at all.

You take a gigantic step back while Dragic is only under contract for one more year; no reason to waste a year of his prime like that. You also make the Lakers pick even worse.

I'm pretty sure that Bledsoe will be back on a 55-60 million dollar deal with us.

I disagree. The goal is a championship. Even with Bledsoe, we'd be time-limited to 4 years (as he'd clearly bolt at the end of that contract). I think we could compete for the playoffs next year even after trading Bledsoe. True, the pick would be worse, but then again, we might not get it at all next year. I think there are multiple ways forward, but as long as we maintain a winning atmosphere while also remaining committed to acquiring valuable assets and forgoing overpriced ones and avoiding short-term thinking, we put ourselves in the best position to contend for a title.

It occurs to me that we might not have drafted Ennis with the thought of trading him, but with the intention to develop him as our PG of the future. It occurs to me that our most talented players are all about 20 years old. I don't think you have to throw the short game to win the long game, but I do think McDonough is playing the long game.

Nothing, four years down the road, is clear to anyone. If this team makes a decision now, based upon what they think Bledsoe would do in 4 years, they are fools.

[JTrain]

[GDFTony]

[Tweet]https://twitter.com/Schultz_Report/statuses/490910598994354176[/Tweet]

Here's that Shcultz guy again, when did he become insider with the suns info? lol

[JTrain]

If it were just about the money I don't think the Lakers would be involved at this point. If it were just about the money Rich Paul would be trying to get the Bucks and Sixers to give offer sheets and if that didn't work, Blesoe would sign with the Suns for $48M.

The fact that he favorited the tweet about the Lakers has to mean something.

[gaspar]

Lakers offer doesn't make any sense for us at all.

Which one? Is there a real one on the table? Randle?

We have absolutely no clue what's going on behind closed doors. Everything is speculation, with the possible exception of the HuffPo guy's claims. His reliability is dubious, especially because of the Jordan Hill comment. But there was also Jon Bloom (sp?). So there have been a couple short blurbs about this. I think it makes sense and have attempted to explain why I think so.

This rumor was manufactured by Bloom based on a hypothetical discussion in a LA radio. He already backtracked on twitter.

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

Nothing, four years down the road, is clear to anyone. If this team makes a decision now, based upon what they think Bledsoe would do in 4 years, they are fools.

I'm just stating pros and cons. Seems the majority is less ambivalent than I.

[Zelaznyrules]

If it were just about the money I don't think the Lakers would be involved at this point. If it were just about the money Rich Paul would be trying to get the Bucks and Sixers to give offer sheets and if that didn't work, Blesoe would sign with the Suns for $48M.

The fact that he favorited the tweet about the Lakers has to mean something.

Yes, it means he's in favor of getting paid the max.

[gaspar]

I don't see how Bledsoe asking for a max contract means he wants out of Phoenix. Perhaps I'm naive and blinded by my fanhood but I really don't. And don't forget that the only one to report that is Chris "Multiple Sources" Broussard.

[AtheJ415]

This. Serious overreacting going on here ever since Bledsoe's desire to get paid came out. He's not getting a max deal from anyone. There's no reason to think he hates Phoenix or wants to leave. All it shows is he wants to get paid and is looking for a big deal. Unfortunately for him, that big deal (at least anything above $12 mill per) probably won't arrive this go around.

If it were just about the money I don't think the Lakers would be involved at this point. If it were just about the money Rich Paul would be trying to get the Bucks and Sixers to give offer sheets and if that didn't work, Blesoe would sign with the Suns for $48M.

The fact that he favorited the tweet about the Lakers has to mean something.

Yes, it means he's in favor of getting paid the max.

[Superhuman]

[JTrain]

If it were just about the money I don't think the Lakers would be involved at this point. If it were just about the money Rich Paul would be trying to get the Bucks and Sixers to give offer sheets and if that didn't work, Blesoe would sign with the Suns for $48M.

The fact that he favorited the tweet about the Lakers has to mean something.

Yes, it means he's in favor of getting paid the max.

The tweet was during the regular season and it had nothing to do with a contract amount. It had to do with Eric Bledsoe playing for the Lakers. And he himself favorited it. He did not favorite any of the countless tweets talking about max contracts or other teams that actually could have made a major offer like the Bucks or Sixers.

I don't know why people continue to ignore the signs.

Again, the tweet and linked story had nothing to do with max money. It had to do with Eric Bledsoe being a good fit with the Lakers.

[PhxSunsFan1234]

I don't see how Bledsoe asking for a max contract means he wants out of Phoenix. Perhaps I'm naive and blinded by my fanhood but I really don't. And don't forget that the only one to report that is Chris "Multiple Sources" Broussard.

This. He doesn't want out of Phoenix. He just wants to get paid. Who wouldn't. I doubt Bledsoe believes he's worth the max. But if his agent pushes and pushes and tries to scare the Suns or start rumors some team is interested, it gets Phoenix on their heels.

Ultimately, I think they'll find a middle ground and do $52/4 or $56/4. Maybe $70/5.

[JTrain]

I suspect it's about marketing. I think he wants Derrick Rose treatment - commercials, endorsements, the like. I think he dislikes the fact that it's so team-oriented and that, as a result, he may not get the sort of acclaim he desires. I think the team-focus combines with the fact that the Phoenix market may not be viewed as optimal for brand development. I think he see an opportunity to be heralded as a Laker, even as part of a 1-2 punch, the other part of which would be acquired post-Kobe. In other words, I think he's exploring a business opportunity.

I think this is probably the best theory on the table right now.

[bwoolf2]

If it were just about the money I don't think the Lakers would be involved at this point. If it were just about the money Rich Paul would be trying to get the Bucks and Sixers to give offer sheets and if that didn't work, Blesoe would sign with the Suns for $48M.

The fact that he favorited the tweet about the Lakers has to mean something.

Yes, it means he's in favor of getting paid the max.

The tweet was during the regular season and it had nothing to do with a contract amount. It had to do with Eric Bledsoe playing for the Lakers. And he himself favorited it. He did not favorite any of the countless tweets talking about max contracts or other teams that actually could have made a major offer like the Bucks or Sixers.

I don't know why people continue to ignore the signs.

Again, the tweet and linked story had nothing to do with max money. It had to do with Eric Bledsoe being a good fit with the Lakers.

If Bledsoe wanted to go to the Lakers that bad they could have easily signed him before signing all of these other guys so I dont really think your argument holds weight.

[Flying Colors]

the only thing i hope that doesn't happen is Bledsoe to pout about this during the season, he wanted the free market to decide his value and the free market did just that

[carey]

Lakers offer doesn't make any sense for us at all.

You take a gigantic step back while Dragic is only under contract for one more year; no reason to waste a year of his prime like that. You also make the Lakers pick even worse.

I'm pretty sure that Bledsoe will be back on a 55-60 million dollar deal with us.

Oh, come on man. We're not competing for a championship, we're competing for a bottom 4 playoff spot. We're trying to build a sustainable future winner. If you think Randle can be the PF of the future for this team, you do that deal tomorrow and you don't worry about wasting one of Dragic's "prime" years.

[MilotheSlayer]

If we gave him a 5/70 could we but a team option after the 3rd year then give him a player option after the 4th?

[JTrain]

I don't see how Bledsoe asking for a max contract means he wants out of Phoenix. Perhaps I'm naive and blinded by my fanhood but I really don't. And don't forget that the only one to report that is Chris "Multiple Sources" Broussard.

This. He doesn't want out of Phoenix. He just wants to get paid. Who wouldn't. I doubt Bledsoe believes he's worth the max. But if his agent pushes and pushes and tries to scare the Suns or start rumors some team is interested, it gets Phoenix on their heels.

Ultimately, I think they'll find a middle ground and do $52/4 or $56/4. Maybe $70/5.

But this makes no sense to me. What rumor would "scare" the Suns? A team can't swoop in while the Suns are asleep and grab him away. Any offer can be matched. The Suns have offered a contract of $48M and as many on this thread have said, they have no incentive to bid against themselves. Bledsoe can either find a team to give him an offer sheet, agree to the $48 million or sign the QO. None of those options should scare the Suns because they are in control regardless.

The fact that someone in a negotiation with ZERO leverage is trying to make a demand so outrageously far from the offer is what's leading many to believe this is simply a roundabout way of making it clear he wants to be moved somewhere. I know a lot people think Rich Paul is dumb but I don't see how he can be that dumb. Because if you come to a negotiating table with zero leverage and huge demands, you are either really dumb or you are trying to halt negotiations altogether.

[SSOL]

If it were just about the money I don't think the Lakers would be involved at this point. If it were just about the money Rich Paul would be trying to get the Bucks and Sixers to give offer sheets and if that didn't work, Blesoe would sign with the Suns for $48M.

The fact that he favorited the tweet about the Lakers has to mean something.

Yes, it means he's in favor of getting paid the max.

The tweet was during the regular season and it had nothing to do with a contract amount. It had to do with Eric Bledsoe playing for the Lakers. And he himself favorited it. He did not favorite any of the countless tweets talking about max contracts or other teams that actually could have made a major offer like the Bucks or Sixers.

I don't know why people continue to ignore the signs.

Again, the tweet and linked story had nothing to do with max money. It had to do with Eric Bledsoe being a good fit with the Lakers.

It had to do with the money, not the team.