Eric Bledsoe [RFA]

[iLLmatic]

https://twitter.com/Gambo987/status/513074390838165504 https://twitter.com/Gambo987/status/513077928897159170

So it sounds like we are going to lose EB for nothing because we want Wiggins, nice.

[In2ition]

Seems like there could be common ground. Why would the Timberwolves think that the Suns want Barea, Budinger and Rubio?

I'm guessing that the ... at the end of the Wojnarowski article was something to do with how self-aggrandizing, low-life, over-rated, used car salesman Coach K is.

[iLLmatic]

I'd happily take a bad contract, removal of protection from the pick they owe us this upcoming season, and Lavine for EB.

[In2ition]

Rubio, LaVine, take protection off of pick, call it a day.

[Superbone]

http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/n ... 5da340eba6

Timberwolves interested in Eric Bledsoe but no deal likely
Paul Coro, azcentral sports
3:27 p.m. MST September 19, 2014

With only a few days before training camp, Eric Bledsoe appears to have found a team with interest in giving him the maximum-level deal that he has desired.

The problem for Bledsoe and Minnesota, the interested team, is that they do not have the salary-cap space to sign the restricted free agent to a four-year, $63 million offer sheet and do not appear to have a package that would interest the Suns in a sign-and-trade deal.

The Suns' preference has been to sign Bledsoe to a multi-year contract, and there is no indication that has changed. Bledsoe is represented by Rich Paul, whose agency partner Mark Termini handles negotiations and was Minnesota part-owner/president/coach Flip Saunders' agent for several years.

...

[INFORMER]

We need INF here to tell us who we'd get like when he nailed the Scola/Plumlee/Green details.

I don't know, I think INF is pretty disgusted with how the FO has handled the whole Bledsoe fiasco.

and I have no idea why...Its not like Phoenix has turned down other teams, its the fact that nobody to this point has offered Eric an offer sheet he would sign.

Because the Suns refused to pursue a sign and trade deal until the 11th hour; they underestimated the resolve (foolishness) of Bledsoe and his agent, and essentially miscalculated the entire situation.

[carey]

Termini (lead negotiator over at Klutch) is Flip Saunders' agent. I don't think much else needs to be said. We may take Wiggins or Lavine and no protection on that pick they owe us, but we won't take the dead weight salaries to make it work because they are pretty bad. I don't think there is anything to see here.

[carey]

Because the Suns refused to pursue a sign and trade deal until the 11th hour; they underestimated the resolve (foolishness) of Bledsoe and his agent, and essentially miscalculated the entire situation.

We don't know that. I'd bet my house we've had talks with several teams over the last two months.

[The Bobster]

Because the Suns refused to pursue a sign and trade deal until the 11th hour; they underestimated the resolve (foolishness) of Bledsoe and his agent, and essentially miscalculated the entire situation.

there's a lot of assumptions being made there....

[Mori Chu]

This "story" is a bunch of hot air that has clearly been leaked by Bledsoe's agent or people close to that side of things. They want to get fans and NBA folks talking about how Bledsoe is a "max player" and how he has teams that want to pay him the max. It's entirely false. The Wolves can't max him out. They'd have to trade away a shitload of salary to be anywhere close to being in position to do something like that.

Sure, technically, the Wolves are saying that they WOULD max him out if they had the space. But LOTS of teams "would" max out lots of guys if there were no salary cap. The Lakers would have signed 5 max free agents this offseason alone if they could have, but they can't, so they didn't. The fact that a team with no cap space makes a vacuous claim that they'd max out Bledsoe means nothing. It's just a lame and weak attempt by Rich Paul to make the Suns sweat or blink in negotiations.

Nothing has changed about the Bledsoe impasse. We aren't offering him the max (rightfully so), and he isn't getting the max offer from any team. If the Wolves think he's that great and think he's a max player, how come they wouldn't give up anything of value to get him? That says a lot about what they think he's really worth. If he were really such a great player in their eyes, they'd be willing to part with a lot of assets for him, but of course they would never do that.

Rich Paul is really showing how ridiculous he is and how he's not to be taken seriously as an NBA agent. I would never again want to do business with this clown or any players he represents.

[Ring_Wanted]

I think there is room for a 3 way trade that doesn't involve Minni's most priced pieces. Barea-Brewer need little additional salary to make things work.

Barea's 4'7M are expiring and can easily be cut, especially if the Wolves send Sarver some cash. Brewer has to have some value to a team like Wizards or Pelicans and is well worth his 2/10 remaining. If they are willing to give up expiring filler, something could be done.

Then it would be a matter of finding an asset that satisfies both Phoenix and the Wolves.

LaVine sounds like a perfect candidate, but I'd want to pair him with Bledsoe. Dieng should be out of question, let alone Wiggins.

At the very worst, they have picks to move, and there's also the 2015 protection. I'd consider that, plus a flyer on Bennet.

[Ring_Wanted]

The fact that a team with no cap space makes a vacuous claim that they'd max out Bledsoe means nothing. It's just a lame and weak attempt by Rich Paul to make the Suns sweat or blink in negotiations.

I don't think that's necessarily the case. The Wolves actually have incentive to offer Bledsoe the max in a sign and trade, IF they can unload a number of deda weight in the process. Obviously Phoenix wouldn't take just crap, but I can believe that this is a real scenario as long as the Wolves are willing to give up value in some form, be it in actual players or draft considerations.

[iLLmatic]

Coro's articled mentioned the Wolves have a 6 million dollar trade exception to work with from the Love-Wiggins trade as well.

[Shabazz]

Coro's articled mentioned the Wolves have a 6 million dollar trade exception to work with from the Love-Wiggins trade as well.

You can't combine that with other players.

[ShelC]

I don't think we've waited until the 11th hour. Hell last month it came out we approached them about Love, so I'd be willing to bet a bunch of different scenarios were thrown out there.

[Mori Chu]

I think in general we base way too much of our opinions of NBA front offices on the various rumors that come out. We should judge them on the transactions they do/don't make, not on rumors. To be upset because your team is supposedly doing nothing about a potential contract signing or trade or FA is pure conjecture. If they let Bledsoe leave without compensation, or if they trade him for a bad haul, then be upset at them.

[SDC]

What's to stop the Suns from matching? Or are we already beyond that?

minny wouldnt be offering a max if bleds didnt give approval that he wants to play there. and it will take a max from minny to get him to play there.

[SDC]

I'll be happy to have this resolved. If we get anything decent it is a win. Bledsoe, get ready to get booed in Phoenix this season.

why boo him? strictly business, nothing personal.

and do you think inf and i will be boing this deal or him?

[SDC]

Gambo saying this isn't happening. Minnesota is offering us their bad contracts, thats all.

i'd love it if the suns got trade exceptions.

[SDC]

Rubio, LaVine, take protection off of pick, call it a day.

#anotherPG

i'm not a pekovic expert, but what about him. inf?

(the suns need a center anyway.)