2014 Suns Free Agency

[elindholm]

As you know, I am a Bledsoe skeptic, but if Hayward is getting $16M per year, Bledsoe (much higher ceiling) is a bargain at $12 or $13M, or whatever the exact max is.

Bledsoe and Hayward are from the same first-round draft class, so their max contracts will be identical.

 

[SirStefan32]

Bledsoe and Hayward are from the same first-round draft class, so their max contracts will be identical.

Wow, you are right. I have no idea why I thought Hayward had a year or two on Bledsoe and that Bledsoe's max would be less.

 

[Mainstreet]

I'm not an expert on salaries but Hayward was drafted at #9 and Bledsoe at #18 in 2010. Could this make a significant difference in max salaries?

 

[Hoop Head]

I think you need to be realistic about Len - Lopez has just come good, Len will probably need at least the same amount of time.


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I can see the argument but they are two different kinds of players from what I've seen. Also Brook came on almost immediately as an impactful player, he was a higher pick yes but Len was at one point projected to go #1, even in a week draft that is a pretty high praise and evaluation of his potential.

 

[elindholm]

I'm not an expert on salaries but Hayward was drafted at #9 and Bledsoe at #18 in 2010. Could this make a significant difference in max salaries?

No, their draft position affects their rookie contracts (first four years), but after that everyone is created equal.

 

[Mainstreet]

No, their draft position affects their rookie contracts (first four years), but after that everyone is created equal.

Thanks for the clarification.

 

[SirStefan32]

So, where the hell did I get that "$12M-$13M per year max for Bledsoe" number from? I swear I didn't pull that out of my behind.

 

[elindholm]

So, where the hell did I get that "$12M-$13M per year max for Bledsoe" number from? I swear I didn't pull that out of my behind.

The number kept climbing steadily downward as this board talked about it, I guess because people were trying to bring themselves to accept the fact that the Suns will be stuck maxing out Bledsoe if they want to keep him.

 

[AzStevenCal]

So, where the hell did I get that "$12M-$13M per year max for Bledsoe" number from? I swear I didn't pull that out of my behind.

I remember the same kind of numbers, something like 5@15 if it's our max, 4@12 or so if it's a matched max. I suspect I know from whom those numbers came.

Steve

 

[Mainstreet]

So, where the hell did I get that "$12M-$13M per year max for Bledsoe" number from? I swear I didn't pull that out of my behind.

If my memory serves me correctly I think slinslin came out first with similar numbers. Please correct me if I am wrong slinslin.

 

[JCSunsfan]

The number went up during the season when they came out with the new salary cap numbers. We might as well spend it on Bledsoe, we have to spend it somewhere. Right now we are under the minimum.

 

[Suns_fan69]

The issue I have is that when Dragic's deal is up, we'll have to max him out too. That means we'll have 2 max contracts for 2 point guards, neither of which is a true superstar. It will be hard to grab a 3rd with the space that is left.

 

[SirStefan32]

The number went up during the season when they came out with the new salary cap numbers. We might as well spend it on Bledsoe, we have to spend it somewhere. Right now we are under the minimum.

That might be it. It's tied to a percentage of salary cap, so as the cap goes up, so do max contracts.

$16M/ year is a lot of money, especially considering that whatever you give Bledsoe, you have to give to Dragic next year. If we have to overpay someone, let's overpay a big man with no history of injuries instead of an undersized shooting guard who can't shoot and has serious injury issues.

 

[Mainstreet]

The issue I have is that when Dragic's deal is up, we'll have to max him out too. That means we'll have 2 max contracts for 2 point guards, neither of which is a true superstar. It will be hard to grab a 3rd with the space that is left.

I think one of the two will have to go. The question is who if the Suns keep Bledsoe.

 

[JCSunsfan]

The issue I have is that when Dragic's deal is up, we'll have to max him out too. That means we'll have 2 max contracts for 2 point guards, neither of which is a true superstar. It will be hard to grab a 3rd with the space that is left.

But the cap is going to continue to go up, maybe significantly, in the next few years. If we had paid Bledsoe the max in October, it would have been in the 14 range. Now its 16. You cannot let assets go. Its just sticker shock, this is where the league is.

On a side, Melo is still uncommitted and Bosh is out there. AND we can still make room for two max deals. . . .

 

[SirStefan32]

The issue I have is that when Dragic's deal is up, we'll have to max him out too. That means we'll have 2 max contracts for 2 point guards, neither of which is a true superstar. It will be hard to grab a 3rd with the space that is left.

At least with Dragic we have another season to monitor and see how he does. With Bledsoe, we are going off of a half a season. All we know for sure is that he can play amazing defense, can get to the basket, runs out of gas quite often, has the balls to try to take over close games in fourth quarter, but doesn't have the skills or endurance to do so, that he is not as terrible of a shooter as we thought he was. that's a damn difficult call to make.

 

[SirStefan32]

But the cap is going to continue to go up, maybe significantly, in the next few years. If we had paid Bledsoe the max in October, it would have been in the 14 range. Now its 16. You cannot let assets go. Its just sticker shock, this is where the league is.

On a side, Melo is still uncommitted and Bosh is out there. AND we can still make room for two max deals. . . .

That's a good point. He will be less overpaid every year going forward, should the Suns max him out and make him REALLY overpaid this year. I wonder if they could front-load the contract (23M this year, then $13 per for 3 years, or something like that.)

 

[AzStevenCal]

But the cap is going to continue to go up, maybe significantly, in the next few years. If we had paid Bledsoe the max in October, it would have been in the 14 range. Now its 16. You cannot let assets go. Its just sticker shock, this is where the league is.

On a side, Melo is still uncommitted and Bosh is out there. AND we can still make room for two max deals. . . .

I just don't see anyone other than Lebron or Love that puts us near the title chase. Since we're not getting either I'd rather slow this process down. I hate the idea of trading Dragic but if it puts us in better position to get a superstar in a couple of years maybe that's the way to go. But if we trade him with an eye on winning now, I think it would be a huge mistake. A mistake on par with how I'd feel if we let Bledsoe walk simply because the market was a little higher than we wanted it to be.

Steve

 

[JS22]

Giving Bledsoe the max is not a smart move. You don't give the max to someone who had a pretty good 40(ish) games.

Unfortunately it only takes one dumb GM. (In a league where Channing Frye gets 8m a year for 4 years.) The Suns will have to match based on potential and the hope that he can stay healthy. Both are scary propositions. I could see the Suns working with Bledsoe on a S&T with a team willing to give him the max.

Edit: The most realistic, and unfortunate, outcome is that Dragic is traded for a player that fits a need. Dragic is already an all-NBA player and he loves playing in Phoenix. It would suck to trade him AGAIN just because you have to give an unproven Bledsoe the max.

 

[KloD]

At least with Dragic we have another season to monitor and see how he does. With Bledsoe, we are going off of a half a season. All we know for sure is that he can play amazing defense, can get to the basket, runs out of gas quite often, has the balls to try to take over close games in fourth quarter, but doesn't have the skills or endurance to do so, that he is not as terrible of a shooter as we thought he was. that's a damn difficult call to make.

I don't think you can judge him on endurance/runs out of gas. I've yet to see very many that don't during their first season or two playing starters min. It takes time to learn how and when to exert your energy. Dragic struggled his first year as a starter with this too.

We have to pay Bledsoe what the market dictates. There will be no Lebron to ease his pain of taking a little less.

What really sucks is with Bledsoe's low salary hold we were in a great position to sign a star or two and go over the cap to keep Tucker and Bledsoe. Next year that option is gone. This is the summer we needed to do it and it didn't happen. I know they did everything they could and I don't believe Lebron ever really considered anyone but Miami and Cleveland. No matter what happens, it will be a disappointing offseason for the failure to cash in on this opportunity. Bummer.

 

[Suns_fan69]

But the cap is going to continue to go up, maybe significantly, in the next few years. If we had paid Bledsoe the max in October, it would have been in the 14 range. Now its 16. You cannot let assets go. Its just sticker shock, this is where the league is.

On a side, Melo is still uncommitted and Bosh is out there. AND we can still make room for two max deals. . . .

But what will Dragic's max deal look like? Will it be more than Bledsoe who's coming off his rookie deal? Or is it based off his previous contract?

If it'll be something like 18 or 19 million plus annual raises, that would mean 34-37 million for the 2 of them.

 

[Chaz]

I don't think you can judge him on endurance/runs out of gas. I've yet to see very many that don't during their first season or two playing starters min. It takes time to learn how and when to exert your energy. Dragic struggled his first year as a starter with this too.

We have to pay Bledsoe what the market dictates. There will be no Lebron to ease his pain of taking a little less.

What really sucks is with Bledsoe's low salary hold we were in a great position to sign a star or two and go over the cap to keep Tucker and Bledsoe. Next year that option is gone. This is the summer we needed to do it and it didn't happen. I know they did everything they could and I don't believe Lebron ever really considered anyone but Miami and Cleveland. No matter what happens, it will be a disappointing offseason for the failure to cash in on this opportunity. Bummer.

Not really. Besides the potential Bledsoe contract the cap holds next year are even lower. Beasley and Childress come off the cap next year freeing up almost 10M. Plus most of this years contract players are UFA.

 

[Chaz]

But what will Dragic's max deal look like? Will it be more than Bledsoe who's coming off his rookie deal? Or is it based off his previous contract?

If it'll be something like 18 or 19 million plus annual raises, that would mean 34-37 million for the 2 of them.

I think Dragic will be 7 years in the league by then so max is 30% of the cap instead of 25%.

 

[SirStefan32]

I don't think you can judge him on endurance/runs out of gas. I've yet to see very many that don't during their first season or two playing starters min. It takes time to learn how and when to exert your energy. Dragic struggled his first year as a starter with this too.

We have to pay Bledsoe what the market dictates. There will be no Lebron to ease his pain of taking a little less.

What really sucks is with Bledsoe's low salary hold we were in a great position to sign a star or two and go over the cap to keep Tucker and Bledsoe. Next year that option is gone. This is the summer we needed to do it and it didn't happen. I know they did everything they could and I don't believe Lebron ever really considered anyone but Miami and Cleveland. No matter what happens, it will be a disappointing offseason for the failure to cash in on this opportunity. Bummer.

Oh, on the list of things I am concerned about his endurance is not anywhere near the top. I am a bit concerned that his defense will suffer as he learns that he needs to conserve his energy, but I am a lot more concerned with other things (still can't run offense, still can't shoot, takes bad shots in the fourth quarter, and most of all he is a walking injury waiting to happen.

I also disagree that we have to pay players what the market dictates. Market (Knicks, specifically) dictated a very bad deal for Amare, $8M per year for Frye, etc.

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying we should just not match it no matter what, nor sign and trade him no matter what, etc. I am just saying it is a tough call I am glad I don't have to make.

 

[Suns_fan69]

After a bit of research, Dragic's deal would be in the 7-9 year max category, which allow him a contract starting at 30% of the salary cap. The salary cap is expected to rise to 63.2million (not 80m as previously stated, that's probably the luxury tax line) so Dragic's max would start at a shade under 19m a year. With the 7.5% annual raises, it works out to 104.8m over 5 years.

And that's using the projected cap numbers for 2014-2015. His contract would be using likely higher numbers for the 2015-2016 season (i think).