Eric Bledsoe [RFA]

[Cap]

How does that meeting even go?

"Eric, I want you to take the QO. It's a huge risk for you with no potential upside, but I want you to do it just to spite a franchise that you had a good relationship with before I got involved."

"Sure, Rich, anything for you. That's what I'm here for."

[JCSunsfan]

Although it would be extremly stupid given his instability and the offer on the table, I think Bledsoe is going to take the QO. I think the fact Greg Monroe signed it yesterday increases the odds Bledsoe will.

The difference? Monroe has no history of injury problems. Bledsoe leaving 48mil over 4 years on the to play for a 3.7mil QO would be pretty bizarre, but I have a hunch he's going to.

The solution to this is easy. Bledsoe can ask for a 4 year 53 million deal, with declining pay, and a fourth year PO. He gets his money, his security, and the chance for a bigger pay day later because he can opt out of the lowest paying year.

14, 13.5, 13, 12.5 (po)

[Mori Chu]

How does that meeting even go?

"Eric, I want you to take the QO. It's a huge risk for you with no potential upside, but I want you to do it just to spite a franchise that you had a good relationship with before I got involved."

"Sure, Rich, anything for you. That's what I'm here for."

Yeah, pretty ridiculous. More like, Eric feels dissed and will do this to stick it to us even though he knows it's risky for him. Ugh.

[Cap]

Although it would be extremly stupid given his instability and the offer on the table, I think Bledsoe is going to take the QO. I think the fact Greg Monroe signed it yesterday increases the odds Bledsoe will.

Bledsoe will turn down $12M/yr in favor of the QO because Monroe did? Not according to Monroe:

Greg Monroe ✔ @M10OSE
Follow
"@millerfootball5: Come on @M10OSE how can you reject a 5 year 60 million deal" < cant reject anything that was not offered to me...carry on
8:13 AM - 10 Aug 2014

[The Bobster]

The first thing everyone needs to understand is that a lot of the reports that make it to the basketball news sites are complete bullshit.

Remember how Milwaukee was going to make Bledsoe an offer? Or how he was supposedly in Miami and was going to get an offer from them? They were just examples like so many others where a site or reporter looking for a scoop or something to fill their column reports conjecture as fact.

[Bruiser]

How does that meeting even go?

"Eric, I want you to take the QO. It's a huge risk for you with no potential upside, but I want you to do it just to spite a franchise that you had a good relationship with before I got involved."

"Sure, Rich, anything for you. That's what I'm here for."

Oh F***!

I am afraid I will go to a dark place and my thoughts about EB and his future will not be well if he takes the QO. Sure, I am sad and sorry about it but I cannot force myself to be in accordance with that sort of attitude. Business or not, I cannot stand it. To me, it is not the Suns or his agent. He is old enough and should know how to act responsible and how to be a role model...

[JCSunsfan]

How does that meeting even go?

"Eric, I want you to take the QO. It's a huge risk for you with no potential upside, but I want you to do it just to spite a franchise that you had a good relationship with before I got involved."

"Sure, Rich, anything for you. That's what I'm here for."

This could actually happen. For Bledsoe, the agent is not about representation, it is about being a part of LeBron's inner circle.

I would not be surprised if LeBron owns Rich Paul's business and gets a cut of the deals he does. If I were the NBA, I would find a way to nix the Love to Cleveland deal. You do not want those two clowns (Paul and LeBron) wielding too much power in the league. Put LeBron on a normal team and he does not nearly have the same influence.

[Mori Chu]

If I were the NBA, I would find a way to nix the Love to Cleveland deal.

There was some NBC Sports article about the possibility of that. But on what grounds would it be nixed? Tampering? There are whispers that Lebron was reaching out to Love before he signed with Cleveland, and/or that the deal has essentially been done since long ago. But unless they can prove anything, it's hard to step in and void trades like that. Also, the league presumably doesn't have much interest in stopping Cleveland from becoming a good team with Lebron back at home; this would be good for business in the NBA I would assume.

[Shabazz]

It would be on the grounds that there's a pre-arranged agreement for Love to get the max after he opts out, which is illegal. Like you said, it's nearly impossible to prove, so nothing will get vetoed. They probably do have that wink-wink deal, though.

And the NBA conceded recently that it's only tampering if it's management-to-player contact. Players are free to talk among themselves about playing together as much as they want.

[Danimal]

Ill-fated tattoos to blame for contract stand off
From bballsunnysideup.com

At the beginning of last season confidence was high for Eric Bledsoe. He was finally given a shot at running his own team and the early results were promising. Repeat confidence was high. After a brief meeting with his agent, Eric thought it was best to make this first move for upcoming contract negotiations. Bledsoe had long been a fan of Russell Crowe’s ability to cause pointless drama, so soon he was sporting a brand new tattoo to make it clear to all what he wanted…’MAXIMAS’

Eric and the Suns entered into negotiations on an extension. But the tattoo was lost on Robert Sarver, having never seen the movie Gladiator due to candy bar prices he deemed ‘excessive’. The thought that his players could afford tattoos also made it clear to Sarver that there was little need for a steep wage increase.
Bledsoe’s agent saw the need to turn things up a notch and promptly advised Bledsoe on what was necessary. Prior to a game against his former club in Los Angeles, Bledsoe, a long time Simpsons fan proceeded to get the name ‘MAX POWER’ written across his chest. This strategy was seen as a no brainer by his agent. But sadly Bledsoe would soon be out for the rest of the season.
Nonetheless the demands for a max contract stand. The usually quiet Bledsoe explained his thoughts on the process. ‘People don’t understand about the issue of bullying in the NBA. I’ve got these tattoos now so I can’t go out there without a max contract. I don’t want to look like a dick. I’m sure people can appreciate that.’
Eric went on to explain that last year teasing was not such an issue for him personally. ‘Every time Len would step on the court, he would shatter like glass and we’d all be laughing at him and Archie who would have to sweep him up with a dust pan. But this year he is much healthier so I worry the jokes will turn towards me and my tattoos.’
Bledsoe’s agent gave his thoughts. ‘They need to understand its Mini-Lebron they are dealing with. Last off season Eric wanted to strengthen his knee further, but I was like I know a thing or two about retro t-shirts so I like the 80’s business style. Its all about image. People don’t understand how hard he worked to get that nick name. I mean he is roughly 6 inches shorter than Lebron, took a few photos with him and I am fairly confident they both play basketball or are in that general line of work.’ His agent who cut the interview short for nap time said he would continue to stick his head in the sand until the Suns saw the obvious merits of giving a non all star with multiple knee surgeries a max offer. ‘Win-Win what else needs to be said’ he noted whilst quickly shovelling sand to hide himself in from any possible move to more logical contract negotiations.

Interesting

[Cap]

Nice Robot.

[AmareIsGod]

Robot's joke news stories. Lol. Need a good laugh. This off-season is killing me. Go Arizona Cardinals!

[Danimal]

Robot's joke news stories. Lol. Need a good laugh. This off-season is killing me. Go Arizona Cardinals!

It was written by I...Danimal. Just trying to help you folks through the off-season

[AmareIsGod]

Wow. Sounded identical to something Robot would write. Are you two related?

[Danimal]

Not that I'm aware of, but yes I liked his style and thought the board could use a pick me up. Also it feels much more therapeutic to write than off loading another rant about the offseason.

[INFORMER]

Although it would be extremly stupid given his instability and the offer on the table, I think Bledsoe is going to take the QO. I think the fact Greg Monroe signed it yesterday increases the odds Bledsoe will.

The difference? Monroe has no history of injury problems. Bledsoe leaving 48mil over 4 years on the to play for a 3.7mil QO would be pretty bizarre, but I have a hunch he's going to.

That would be bittersweet for me. On one hand, I would love for Bledsoe to take the QO because it seems like the only way to facilitate his exodus from Phoenix and save Ryan from his own stupidity. On the other hand, I hate for the Suns to waste another season with a guy that isn't here to stay.

I hate that Ryan is so married to this guy.

[TOO]

You make it sound like he is treating him like he's the franchise, I dont think he is. His unwillingness to cave on a max deal says he's anything but married to him. Why wouldn't he want want to keep a player he got for nothing if a reasonable deal can be worked out? I don't think McD will give him a bad deal, I also think he'd trade him if a solid opportunity presents itself.

[virtual9mm]

INF, TOO -- judging from the dribbles of information leaked via the RealGM board (which I consider semi-reliable at worst) -- I suspect that that current game plan is to force Bledsoe to sign for 12mm/year and to use him as a trading chip. Bledsoe at a mini-max contract is far from untradeable but won't yield as much value as Bledsoe on a more reasonable contract.

At this point, I'm inclined to agree with this strategy.

[TOO]

Sounds good to me.

[INFORMER]

INF, TOO -- judging from the dribbles of information leaked via the RealGM board (which I consider semi-reliable at worst)

I would say it's semi-reliable at best.