Eric Bledsoe [RFA]

[Shabazz]

Sources: Suns relationship with star Eric Bledsoe on verge of irreparable

http://www.csnnw.com/nba/sources-suns-r ... rreparable

[Superbone]

Ruh roh.

[Xylus]

Does the "we'll match any offer" tactic actually work? I can recall two instances of teams using it before:

1. New Orleans said they would match any offer for Eric Gordon. Suns gave him an offer sheet for the max, anyway. New Orleans matched.

2. Utah said all season they would match any offer for Gordon Hayward. Bobcats gave him an offer sheet, anyway. Utah matched.

Why would any team be scared off by that statement? Isn't it worth it to try and call the other team's bluff and force them to pay big money to retain that player? I don't buy this one bit. Rich Paul is clearly filling Bledsoe's head with bullshit to save face for Paul's own failures.

[Xylus]

Also, this is my first time hearing the name Chris Haynes. Seems unlikely that he'd have a deeper source than Woj, Stein, Sheridan, Spears, or, hell, even Gambo.

Could be leverage manufactured by the Rich Paul camp to get the Suns to up their offer. They've got to be pretty damn desperate since they have a surplus and no demand for it.

[Superbone]

Also, this is my first time hearing the name Chris Haynes. Seems unlikely that he'd have a deeper source than Woj, Stein, Sheridan, Spears, or, hell, even Gambo.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Why would this Portland insider have more inside info than everybody else?

[TOO]

I believe its ruined if/when they trade him. Until then, I'll stick to indifference.

[Cap]

Did the Suns actually say they would match a 4/63 offer from another team, but won't offer more than 4/48 unless forced to do so by another team's offer sheet?

[LazarusLong]

"Insider from Portland" has about as much gravitas as being a lumberjack from Gila Bend. I call major "ass" on the story.

[Mori Chu]

Sounds like media taking pot shots from afar. Could be info leaked by his agent, but likely it's nothing.

[Superbone]

"Insider from Portland" has about as much gravitas as being a lumberjack from Gila Bend. I call major "ass" on the story.

LOL. Thanks for the laugh, LL.

[SDC]

Sources: Suns relationship with star Eric Bledsoe on verge of irreparable

http://www.csnnw.com/nba/sources-suns-r ... rreparable

if it's irrepairable, then even that 4/48 deal is de facto off the table?

[Ring_Wanted]

Did the Suns actually say they would match a 4/63 offer from another team, but won't offer more than 4/48 unless forced to do so by another team's offer sheet?

As far as I know they have not made such clain, at least publicly. They've said several times that they'll match anything. Some times I've heard it with the qualification of 'reasonable', but there's never been a specific figure for a Suns offer. They also said that their preference was agreeing to a contract rather than dealing with offers from other teams.

By the way things are going it is clear the Suns entered the summer with the mindset that they didn't want to lose the player for nothing and thus were ready to match any offer sheet, max or otherwise, but also knew that they have leverage and are not going to blindly give in to the player's demands if there is no need to.

I am perfectly fine with that approach. Even if healthy, Bledsoe is a very nice player but he is not John Wall or Demarcus Cousins. What remains to be seen is if those 4/48 are the absolute most the Suns are willing to pay or if there is room for further negotiation. We'd also have to know how adamant Bledsoe is about his stance, but he is the one risking playing yet another season without his long term contract.

Ultimately from the player end, the most he has to gain by taking the QO is 15M plus whatever % the cap increases next year, which supposedly won't be a huge amount as the new TV deal won't kick in until the 2016-17 season.

Hardly worth the risk, in my opinion, but that's why I've been suggesting lately a 2-3 contract with a player option so everybody gets something while sharing the risk.

And really, if the relationship sours as a result of forcing the player's hand and making him take 'less', so be it. Both parties can explore trades starting Dec 15 and if the player proves to be healthy and productive there will be offers for a fair/below market contract.

[SDC]

does the suns need another pg at this point? they already have dragic, thomas and ennis.

[Ring_Wanted]

does the suns need another pg at this point? they already have dragic, thomas and ennis.

So what. Ennis has all the looks of a decent backup, starter on a stacked team, but he is not nearly in the category we are talking about and Thomas is only a factor on one side of the court.

As long as you want to keep the two PG system, Boedsoe more than has a place.

[MightyMoog]

I think both sides are waiting to see what happens in september once all the rookies that were signed can be traded. I'm glad the Suns aren't budging. No one lost a championship but letting a player walk, only by giving out bad contracts. If he was truly a max player, we wouldn't be having this conversation.
But I'm honestly kind of done with his attitude. He smells like Lebron. I'd rather have the good hard working underdogs, and a humble superstar, than these self entitled prima donnas.

[Mori Chu]

I'm glad the Suns aren't budging. No one lost a championship but [sic] letting a player walk, only by giving out bad contracts.

You could argue that the Thunder lost their best chance at a title by letting Harden leave after the 2012 playoffs (technically, they agreed to trade him away, but it's the same thing). I do agree that handcuffing your team with bad contracts, and bidding against yourself, are bad things to do.

But I'm honestly kind of done with his attitude. He smells like Lebron. I'd rather have the good hard working underdogs, and a humble superstar, than these self entitled prima donnas.

There have been guys who were RFAs, signed with another team and got matched, complained about it, but then came back and played well for their original team. DeAndre Jordan almost left the Clips when he signed an RFA deal with the Warriors that got matched. Josh Smith almost left the Hawks earlier in his career. Roy Hibbert almost became a Blazer. These things tend to blow over.

[Cap]

Yes, they do blow over.

I like the idea of offering him 2/24 with a PO after 1.

I'm not trying to get a max player for $12M. I'm reluctant to give him max at this time because of his injury history, and because I'm still feeling the sting of giving Boris Diaw a big contract after one magical season.

So let him play 2014-15 for $12M, show us that he's the max player he thinks he is, and opt out. We'll still have his Bird Rights and will be able to outbid any other team. If he has a disappointing season due to injury or whatever, he can play another season for $12M and seek a new contract in 2016. He'll get the max contract he wants as soon as he proves he's worth it. In the meantime, he will have left very little money on the table. $12M is not a bad salary for what is still proving time.

[JCSunsfan]

The CBA is designed to do exactly what is going on with Bledsoe right now. It is intended to give drafting teams significant control over their players for 8 years or so.

It would have been foolish for the Suns to NOT say they will match any offer, maybe even negligent. I hate dealing with people who get personally insulted in negotiations. Buying cars, houses, negotiating contracts etc. It does not help at all.

[Xylus]

I'd rather have the good hard working underdogs, and a humble superstar, than these self entitled prima donnas.

I couldn't disagree with you more. Good hard working underdogs make for a fun, exciting story, but they don't get very far in the playoffs. Talent does, and Bledsoe is talented. I also wouldn't really consider Bledsoe a prima donna, but I guess I can see why people might view him that way.

[Ring_Wanted]

It would have been foolish for the Suns to NOT say they will match any offer, maybe even negligent.

Absolutely. The Suns did exactly what they had to do. Personally, I believe they actually were ready to match anything, max included. It was not mere posturing, but that's standard in restricted free agency yet other teams rutinely are willing to call the bluff, only to find out that it wasn't a bluff. Bledsoe has to ask himself (and his agent) why not one single team has showed a willingness to gamble on him. If he believes the only reason is what the Suns claimed (the way they used CBA rules, right?) which is indeed the due diligence, he is simply delusional.