Eric Bledsoe [RFA]

[Indy]

But Mori had a good point about the cap going way up soon, so it shouldn't be too bad if he plays at the same level as last year (when healthy).

Oh my god--too many flashbacks to KJ when adding "when healthy" to that post... and KJ is my favorite Sun ever.

[Indy]

Any details on the structure? Front loaded? Back loaded? Flat? Normal raises?

[Wally_West]

Wow, what a dumb contract. Hopefully it's front loaded or some shit.

[In2ition]

Any details on the structure? Front loaded? Back loaded? Flat? Normal raises?

Someone got backloaded...

[SwingMan]

No options! That is crazy. I can't believe it.

I know this isn't going out very far on a limb (if at all), but there is no way he finishes that contract here.

I kicked the shit out of my inner and outer pessimist a few years back - I say the only way he doesn't finish that deal here is because of possible injuries.

But yeah, we caved big time - I'm now worried what kind of message that sends Dragic for next year, as there's only one player per team that's eligible for a 5 year deal, isn't there?

[SwingMan]

Tweet to first article - still no deeper contract details..... :
https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/status/514896412979781632

[The Bobster]

$14 million won't be exorbitant once the new television contracts kick in - but they're really gambling on him staying healthy.

You have to figure Dragic will pull in at least $16-17 million a year next year.

[Wally_West]

I bet Rich Paul is happy with himself . Sheez.

[Ring_Wanted]

offered 12 per. Signed at 14 per. I can live with that, don't find it a bargain but not gross erither. All depends on health now.

[The Bobster]

Ehh, they basically just split the difference.

I don't think anybody comes out a clear winner in the negotiations so they all win.

[SwingMan]

https://twitter.com/paulcoro/status/514899762437718016

[TOO]

That is depressing.

[TOO]

So now we have to max Goran or lose him next year in favor of this injury risk laden turd... Any way this is just a prelude to a trade for Bledsoe seeing as we gave him the 5th year?

[Xylus]

I like the per-year rate, but that 5th year does make me nervous.

I'm glad this is all behind us.

[Bruiser]

I don't really know if the deal is really that bad - in particular because the health concerns and the upcoming TV deal are two unknowns that are simply very tough to account for - but I cannot stop asking myself why we could not negotiate something better when we were in such a comfortable position to call his QO bluff or even let him walk ...

[Shabazz]

If you want to play the cognitive dissonance game, you can look at it this way: Suns probably upped their offer to 4 years/$54M ($12+13+14+15M), so going up to 5 years/$70M is just adding an extra year at the same rate of salary increase.

The biggest issue I have with it is the massive risk that year 5 represents. If he gets hurt in year 2, we're carrying an albatross contract in an era where not many albatross contracts exist. It's up to the TSM to work their magic.

Who's ready for the Eric Bledsoe era?

[The Bobster]

To put it in perspective - if he's making $12 million next year there's probably 50 players making more money in the league next year.

[Charlie Smithy!]

Bleh.

[Indy]

To put it in perspective - if he's making $12 million next year there's probably 50 players making more money in the league next year.

That is both good perspective, and sickening!

Can you put in minimum games played clauses? I'm sure you can, but is it ever really done?

[Bruiser]

So now we have to max Goran or lose him next year in favor of this injury risk laden turd... Any way this is just a prelude to a trade for Bledsoe seeing as we gave him the 5th year?

Yeah. Maybe we really have some sort of an agreement on a trade and we just had to sign him to 5 years for under 72 or something like that in order to satisfy (one of) our (potential) trade partner(s). Or maybe we wanted him really bad all the time and it is just because of his agent's way of negotiating that all of this did not happen months ago.