The One And Only Offseason Thread 5: Dinnertime!

[RunDogGun]

We need a consistent big man. Plumlee is good, but hes far from consistent. He had a long stretch last season where he seemed to have disappeared.

It coincided with Bledsoe's absence.

Certainly losing another slashing guard hurt Plumlee, but I think it actually had more to do with:1) Plumlee was relatively unknown, as well as his game. The more footage of him, the more the opposition had to prepare for him. 2) Plumlee is mostly all hustle, so with the huge influx of minutes, and the massive amounts of banging he was never used to getting, it took its toll over the season.

[Saberestar]

Chris Sheridan believes there is one team that could easily make a max contract offer to Eric Bledsoe

http://icestream.bonnint.net/az/audio/2 ... 306836.mp3

This interview is from 3 days ago. He said that Philadelphia has the money and they have to spend, because their salary team is too low, and he can be a good fit because he is young and bla blab bla...

We will see after this Thad Young's trade, but I do not see this happening.

[King4Day]

Chris Sheridan believes there is one team that could easily make a max contract offer to Eric Bledsoe

http://icestream.bonnint.net/az/audio/2 ... 306836.mp3

This interview is from 3 days ago. He said that Philadelphia has the money and they have to spend, because their salary team is too low, and he can be a good fit because he is young and bla blab bla...

We will see after this Thad Young's trade, but I do not see this happening.

I called into NBA radio yesterday and asked if, after Young is dealt to Minny, would Philly go after Bledsoe. They all but laughed at me as they said Young isn't going anywhere.
That was, however, before last nights report that Young WILL go to Minny.

I bet Bledsoe and his agent are waiting for this deal to get done so they can talk with the 76ers.

[JDLAW]

Chris Sheridan believes there is one team that could easily make a max contract offer to Eric Bledsoe

http://icestream.bonnint.net/az/audio/2 ... 306836.mp3

This interview is from 3 days ago. He said that Philadelphia has the money and they have to spend, because their salary team is too low, and he can be a good fit because he is young and bla blab bla...

We will see after this Thad Young's trade, but I do not see this happening.

Phila has always had the ability - they have never had the interest. There is a downside for Phila. If they do not meet the min - they simply have to distribute the deficit on a pro-rata players to the eligible players on their roster and they maintain cap flexibility. If they spend on a player, they have just reduced their cap flexibility without the ability to regain it easily.

[Saberestar]

The Suns and Eric Bledsoe are past the halfway point.

The two sides have less time before a deadline to accept a one-year qualifying offer (fewer than six weeks) than they have had to work out a new multiyear contract (more than seven weeks).
The only movement in the situation appears to be the Suns' openness to explore a sign-and-trade for Bledsoe.

The Suns have contacted at least one team and taken inquiries from others regarding the possibility of executing a Bledsoe sign-and-trade. That would include the Suns signing Bledsoe, a restricted free agent, to a contract on behalf of another team in exchange for player(s) and/or draft pick(s). Other league executives who have not been contacted by the Suns said that they have heard Phoenix is looking into the possibility. The Suns declined comment.

The Suns never closed the door to the possibility of a sign-and-trade with Bledsoe since free agency began July 1 but were adamant this summer that their priority and preference was to sign Bledsoe to a long-term contract. They sought him in a trade last summer and built a system to fit the way he and Goran Dragic play — and because of their ability to sign Bledsoe or match another team's offer sheet. The Suns won two-thirds of their games when Bledsoe and Dragic started together last season.

With expectations for a maximum-salary offer, Bledsoe has been left with no offer sheets from the other 29 teams and a four-year, $48 million offer from the Suns that came at the start of July.
The Suns, though, even with no competition — and no need to bid against themselves — have been open to further negotiations.
Bledsoe has left the process in the hands of his representation and has not talked to the Suns since he left Phoenix in April and did not return to work out at US Airways Center like many of his teammates did.

Working out a sign-and-trade would be difficult. Those teams who have not pitched an offer sheet to Bledsoe must have a need for a point guard (few teams do), a belief in Bledsoe (a fabulous talent but there are split camps on his ceiling), a willingness to meet or approach his contract wishes ($80 million over five years) and a package that the Suns value in return (talent and/or high picks). They also would need urgency because general managers might believe Bledsoe will be available as a free agent in a little more than 10 months.

The Suns could be more open to the sign-and-trade idea because of the real possibility that Bledsoe will become an unrestricted free agent in July if he returns for a season on a $3.73 million qualifying offer. The Suns could still trade Bledsoe during the season until the Feb. 19 deadline but Bledsoe would have the right of refusal on deals.
The return packages would be different at that stage because trade partners would be matching salaries with Bledsoe's $3.7 million slot rather than an eight-figure one. Also, the Suns could be fighting for a playoff spot with Bledsoe as one of their top players.

Bledsoe has until Oct. 1 to accept the $3.73 million qualifying offer, which is still a raise over the $2.63 million he made last season but well below the Suns offer that could start him near $13 million in a frontloaded structure. If Bledsoe would land a maximum-level deal next summer, he would not match the earnings of the Suns offer until the 2017-18 season.

Many league executives consider the Suns offer to be fair and believe Bledsoe would be running a risk (knee issues, subpar season) of lowering his 2015 market value.
Bledsoe, 24, would bank on himself if he took the qualifying offer. He could further showcase his elite skills as a driver and defender, and could prove his health to entice a large offer next summer when a team such as the Los Angeles Lakers has salary cap space and point guard needs. But in a co-star and co-playmaker role with Dragic, Bledsoe might not have the full ability to showcase himself.
There is still more than a month remaining to execute the original plan and ongoing desire to have Bledsoe agree to a new Suns contract.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/n ... /14447349/

[aIvin adams]

that azcentral article is spot on.


IMO, the entire bledsoe issue is /thread'd by that article until something actually happens.

[JDLAW]

that azcentral article is spot on.


IMO, the entire bledsoe issue is /thread'd by that article until something actually happens.

The exception is that (5yrs and 80M) is not available to another team in a sign and trade. The new CBA prohibits that.

[Sun Scorched]

As a person who negotiates daily (commercial real estate), I'm still so frustrated with how Bledsoe and his agent have approached this. It is such a stupid and childish technique.

Listen, the NBA is a business, I get that. But at the end of the day, people prefer doing business with people they like. Instead of playing that card, Bledsoe and/or his agent thought it would be cute to play distant - and now they've painted themselves into a corner.

There is no doubt in my mind that the Suns had $500k to $1m in room to negotiate - you never start with your best offer, never. Worst case, Bledsoe could have built in appropriate incentives. +$1m for all-star appearance? +$1m for all NBA, all NBA defense?

It's not that complicated. You think you're worth the max, you shouldn't be afraid to prove it.

End of discussion.

[aIvin adams]

that azcentral article is spot on.


IMO, the entire bledsoe issue is /thread'd by that article until something actually happens.

The exception is that (5yrs and 80M) is not available to another team in a sign and trade. The new CBA prohibits that.

true great catch.

would it be 4yr 65M max in a S+T, then?

[Sun Scorched]

My god, it's so obvious.

[Sun Scorched becomes competent Rich Paul]

Okay Eric, take the Suns' offer. We just built in $2m worth of incentives. We're going to get LeBron to help promote you throughout the season - he is the greatest basketball player in the world, after all - and we're going to make a serious All-Star bid for you, with serious money funneled into advertising your personal brand. I know several of the voters for the All-NBA teams, we'll begin that campaign immediately.

All you have to do is go out there and play like the badass we both know you are, and that 4 year, $56 million contract is within our reach!

[Sun Scorched snaps back into reality, realizes he is already a substantially better agent than Rich Paul]

[aIvin adams]

As a person who negotiates daily (commercial real estate), I'm still so frustrated with how Bledsoe and his agent have approached this. It is such a stupid and childish technique.

Listen, the NBA is a business, I get that. But at the end of the day, people prefer doing business with people they like. Instead of playing that card, Bledsoe and/or his agent thought it would be cute to play distant - and now they've painted themselves into a corner.

There is no doubt in my mind that the Suns had $500k to $1m in room to negotiate - you never start with your best offer, never. Worst case, Bledsoe could have built in appropriate incentives. +$1m for all-star appearance? +$1m for all NBA, all NBA defense?

It's not that complicated. You think you're worth the max, you shouldn't be afraid to prove it.

End of discussion.

nothing Bledsoe has done or said is inconsistent with the italicized portion of what you said. if he signs the QO then he's doing exactly what you expect a professional in his position to do.

[Sun Scorched]

As a person who negotiates daily (commercial real estate), I'm still so frustrated with how Bledsoe and his agent have approached this. It is such a stupid and childish technique.

Listen, the NBA is a business, I get that. But at the end of the day, people prefer doing business with people they like. Instead of playing that card, Bledsoe and/or his agent thought it would be cute to play distant - and now they've painted themselves into a corner.

There is no doubt in my mind that the Suns had $500k to $1m in room to negotiate - you never start with your best offer, never. Worst case, Bledsoe could have built in appropriate incentives. +$1m for all-star appearance? +$1m for all NBA, all NBA defense?

It's not that complicated. You think you're worth the max, you shouldn't be afraid to prove it.

End of discussion.

nothing Bledsoe has done or said is inconsistent with the italicized portion of what you said. if he signs the QO then he's doing exactly what you expect a professional in his position to do.

That's the point though, isn't he. He hasn't done anything. Either to earn the contract he thinks he's worth or to attempt to explain why he thinks he's worth it.

He's actually done nothing. That's the worst possible thing you could do, and he's doing it.

[aIvin adams]

That's the point though, isn't he. He hasn't done anything. Either to earn the contract he thinks he's worth or to attempt to explain why he thinks he's worth it.

He's actually done nothing. That's the worst possible thing you could do, and he's doing it.

oh i misunderstood you. i thought what you were describing was a scenario where Bledsoe wasn't negotiating, besides demanding the max, and planned on taking the QO and playing for a max.

[KaneSFFL]

Is there ANY chance we sign bled to a slightly better deal than he originally was offered . Maybe something like 4 years 58-62 million and get him to bite on the signing. Then we wait to see what happens during the season and keep close tabs with OKC and the whole situation with them pushing for a title this year and we give them Bledsoe/green/picks for Westbrook.

They are trying to win now and Bledsoe is someone who might fit there team better with his willingness to defer more to durant and also some dynamite depth with Gerald green.

We get a guy who has been itching for a chance to be the man and to me seems like it could be the small scale, little man version of when we brought in Charles to an already good team and made the finals the next year with Charles winning MVP.

Despite what people say about Russ I think he is unstoppable, and with the right coaching (I think Scott brooks is too soft) can be turned into an MVP candidate.

OKC rolls with

Bled
Green
Durant
Ibaka
Perk/kiwi

I think that's better than Russ and the scrub they've had at 2 guard the last few years as it allows pressure off durant but also true command of that team.

For us,

Westbrook/dragon
Dragon/Westbrook
Tucker
Markieff
Plum/Len

Bench
IT
Marcus
Goodwin
Tj

I think all this team is lacking is 3pt shooting and maybe some inside scoring but with Russ/goran/iT penetrating we could get our big men involved inside

I just get stoked daydreaming about the possibility of Russ in a suns uni. Can anyone photoshop it for me just for fun?

[Sun Scorched]

I think Bledsoe is too similar for this not to be a lateral move for OKC. Do the picks and Green sway it in their favor? Meh, not really.

I don't like Westbrook, but he's proven to be an Iron Horse, whereas question marks still surround Bledsoe in that regard.

[RunDogGun]

I say we still say we will match any offer. If Philly wants him, they will have to go through us.

[KaneSFFL]

I think Bledsoe is too similar for this not to be a lateral move for OKC. Do the picks and Green sway it in their favor? Meh, not really.

I don't like Westbrook, but he's proven to be an Iron Horse, whereas question marks still surround Bledsoe in that regard.

Bledsoe is much more of a true point guard, mostly because Westbrook is so dynamic you could actually build an offense featuring him that OKC can't feature two studs in durant and Westbrook. With Bledsoe it allows durant to really take over and bled to be the true number two, where he fits better and may be better defensively when asked not to do too much on the offensive end. Adding a guy like green as a starter for them gives them amazing balance and the ability for 3 guys to go off for 30 any night.

Westbrook is almost held back in OKC. I think he thinks this too and with the true chance to shine as a number one, could flourish. Same with durant, as the nice guy he is he will step up better in big moments, like he did in the stretch Russ was out for them this year. I think that was what won him MVP this year

[KaneSFFL]

I really think this is a win win for both sides.

[JDLAW]

that azcentral article is spot on.


IMO, the entire bledsoe issue is /thread'd by that article until something actually happens.

The exception is that (5yrs and 80M) is not available to another team in a sign and trade. The new CBA prohibits that.

true great catch.

would it be 4yr 65M max in a S+T, then?

4 yrs and $63M The Suns best at 4 yrs is $65M because they are allowed 7.5% as opposed to 4.5% raises. The Suns cannot give another team the right to the 7.5% raises either.

[jcsunsfan]

I say we still say we will match any offer. If Philly wants him, they will have to go through us.

That's not the way you do this. The Suns have to say, "Man, we need to keep money open for other players. We are really second guessing our offer." Hopefully that gets a team like Philly to bite and offer 4/50 or something. Then we can match and be done.

The "we'll match any offer" strategy has backfired for the Suns. In retrospect, it would have been better for some team out there to think they had a chance, and offer a four year deal at something less than $55 million. The Suns could have matched and that would be it.