proposed blockbuster Suns trade featuring Rondo, Bledsoe

[86MaxwellSmart]

No to Bledsoe....dude is Constantly Injured....tired of people bringing up his name---like the way Corey Maggette used to come up---NO--!!

[wdleehi]

Why give a max to a guy who has a career year on his contract year? 

On a guy who didn't stay healthy?

On a guy that couldn't run the offense?

And most of all, no one else is offering the max to?

[GreenWarrior]

umpossible a misleading thread title???

[JBcat]

I'd rather hold onto Rondoin this trade idea.  I like the different things Smart, Bradley, and Rondo bring to the table.  I want to see how that rotation plays out first.

[Eddie20]

And most of all, no one else is offering the max to?

That's because the Suns are basically holding him hostage by expressing their intent to match all offers.

[Endless Paradise]

No one's pointed out that the one non-Phoenix team that has the cap space to offer Bledsoe a max deal - Philly - has shown no interest in doing so?  Or that the Suns literally cannot lose Bledsoe for nothing since he's a restricted free agent and all they have to do is match whatever non-max offer he gets?

[gpap]

It's an interesting idea.

I did read the article where Eric Bledsoe says Phoenix is "using restricted free agency against him"(though the quote was also sorta taken out of context.)

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/24638325/eric-bledsoe-says-suns-using-restricted-free-agency-against-him

I think Bledsoe could be a target but I also wonder about his injury history and whether or not Phoenix would agree to deal Bledsoe for Rondo when they already have Isaiah Thomas (which leads me to believe perhaps Phoenix is possibly looking to trade Bledsoe for another piece, maybe a center?)

[saltlover]

I don't remember which thread I said it in (probably the AB thread), but weeks ago I said to watch Bledsoe's situation, in that he might be the loser of the free agency period.  There just weren't many teams with cap room who wanted point guards, and Bledsoe thinks he's due for a big payday.  Bledsoe needs to either take the QO offer or give in.  He's right that the Suns are using restricted agency to their advantage -- that's why it's called restricted free agency. 

That said, I'm writing a fanpost for the front page right now, and it doesn't look like it will be the case next year, with several teams wanting point guards who also have cap room.  I don't think we'll see the same situation with Rondo next year.

[BballTim]

And most of all, no one else is offering the max to?

That's because the Suns are basically holding him hostage by expressing their intent to match all offers.

  Didn't the Jazz do the same with Hayward?

[loco_91]

No one's pointed out that the one non-Phoenix team that has the cap space to offer Bledsoe a max deal - Philly - has shown no interest in doing so?  Or that the Suns literally cannot lose Bledsoe for nothing since he's a restricted free agent and all they have to do is match whatever non-max offer he gets?

Nice point, if no other team is preparing an offer then Suns have no incentive to S&T. But maybe someone wants to play him as more of a combo guard, as we would do with him and Smart. I do think it would be a great backcourt, as Smart has the length, strength and tenacity to guard SG's.

[gpap]

The other obstacle I could see with this (correct me if I am wrong) is can the Celts afford to offer Eric Bledsoe a max, which is what he's looking for?

I mean a max deal would be what? 4-5 yrs at 60-80 mil?

I am assuming the Celts would have to trade Rondo's salary and the salary of another player (maybe Bass) to make it work, right?

[Vermont Green]

I don't think we are going to pay a PG max and have him end up on the bench if Smart pans out.

A Bleadsoe/AB back court would be tiny as heck.

I'd rather get LA involved and send

 Rondo/Bass to Pheonix.

Sully/Bledsoe to LA

Nash/Randle to Boston

This would give us a PG to start the season out and teach Smart how to play the game.

PHX gets a PG and PF that gets them into the playoffs.

LA gets a good PG that can help Kobe score and a more excelled young PF to play behind Boozer.

If we can some how work in Green and get Warren and filler that would be nice as well.

Why not just Rondo, Bass and Anthony to LA with Nash, Lin. and Randle to Boston (Anthony and Lin added to make salaries work) and keep Pho out of it.  It seems that LA would rather have Rondo over Bledsoe and then we can just keep Sully out of it too.

If you really like Bledsoe, maybe Lin, Sully, and a pick for Sign and Trade Bledoe?  I am not sure why we would want to go after Bledsoe.  I like Smart as much as I like Bledsoe in terms of future talent and I like Smart's $$ much better.

[Eddie20]

And most of all, no one else is offering the max to?

That's because the Suns are basically holding him hostage by expressing their intent to match all offers.

  Didn't the Jazz do the same with Hayward?

The Hornets were the outlier though. They not only were aggressive in FA moving from Hayward to Stephenson without even bothering to inquire about a S&T, but also had the cap space.

Woj

Several other teams had called Utah to inquire about the possibility of sign-and-trade deals if they signed Hayward to an offer sheet, but Charlotte never did, sources tell Yahoo Sports. The Hornets are short of the kind of young frontline talent that would appeal to teams in such a deal.

According to reports, the Bucks, Lakers, Rockets, and Kings have all shown interest in a S&T for Bledsoe. However, the Sixers are currently the only team with cap space to sign Bledsoe.

[Sketch5]

I don't think we are going to pay a PG max and have him end up on the bench if Smart pans out.

A Bleadsoe/AB back court would be tiny as heck.

I'd rather get LA involved and send

 Rondo/Bass to Pheonix.

Sully/Bledsoe to LA

Nash/Randle to Boston

This would give us a PG to start the season out and teach Smart how to play the game.

PHX gets a PG and PF that gets them into the playoffs.

LA gets a good PG that can help Kobe score and a more excelled young PF to play behind Boozer.

If we can some how work in Green and get Warren and filler that would be nice as well.

Why not just Rondo, Bass and Anthony to LA with Nash, Lin. and Randle to Boston (Anthony and Lin added to make salaries work) and keep Pho out of it.  It seems that LA would rather have Rondo over Bledsoe and then we can just keep Sully out of it too.

If you really like Bledsoe, maybe Lin, Sully, and a pick for Sign and Trade Bledoe?  I am not sure why we would want to go after Bledsoe.  I like Smart as much as I like Bledsoe in terms of future talent and I like Smart's $$ much better.

I wouldn't want Bledsoe if we are getting rid of Rondo. I like the Nash thing becuase I think he would be a better teacher than Rondo, has a better over all PG game that fits with Stevens style.

I'd be fine with Celts/LA deal. I just added PHX because of the Bledsoe thing the tread was about. Just trying to stay on topic. But when has CB thread ever stayed on topic!

[Eddie20]

The other obstacle I could see with this (correct me if I am wrong) is can the Celts afford to offer Eric Bledsoe a max, which is what he's looking for?

I mean a max deal would be what? 4-5 yrs at 60-80 mil?

I am assuming the Celts would have to trade Rondo's salary and the salary of another player (maybe Bass) to make it work, right?

No.

A team acquiring a player either via S&T or through cap space can only sign the player to a max length of 4 years. Only a player's current team can give them the 5th year, which again can't be transferred via S&T. So in Bledsoe's case, you're talking about a 4 year deal starting at approximately 12M, with yearly increases which take it to around 60M.

No, just Rondo.