Bledsoe Contract: 5 Years, $70 million

[devilalum]

My morbid curiosity can't wait to see the Suns roll out a lineup of:

Thomas
Bledsoe
Dragic
Morris
Morris

If you want to get even crazier you can interchange Marcus with Green. That team would fly up and down the court and be a nightmare to defend against. Of course they'd be horrible in their own right defensively.

It might also give BC a heart attack.

If Cotton was coaching you'd seem that lineup every game.

 

[Mainstreet]

I suffered buyers remorse in the early hours of the morning over the amount of money paid to Bledsoe.

Somehow I had to ease my mind so I did some basic math. I expected the Suns to pay Bledsoe in the area of 4/52 or 13 million per season. I always thought 4/48 was the starting point. Instead, the Suns signed Bledsoe for 5/70 or 14 million per season.

What's a million a season difference between friends.

I must say, signing Bledsoe for a 5th season threw me a curve. Now, so long as the Suns take care of Goran, I can live with it.

 

[JS22]

If Cotton was coaching you'd seem that lineup every game.

I definitely see them doing it for stretches each game. I still think the Suns have far too many guards but it will be fun to see them going full throttle for most of the game. Teams on the second game of a back to back are going to hate playing them.

Hopefully next season the Suns can find a legitimate big man. Perhaps Markieff continues to improve and he becomes a solid starter. I just hope he doesn't try to fill the Frye roll and regress back to bricking 3's the entire game.

 

[devilalum]

My hope is now that Bledsoe got his big payday he'll embrace the 2 PG system even more. I always got the feeling last year that he was wary of how it was effecting his value. Now he can just focus on doing whatever it takes to win.

 

[Griffin]

It's not a bad contract for the Suns, provided, as management stated, he stays healthy and he continues improving. The guaranteed 5th year seemed to have been the major concession on Suns part, but by then the salary cap with be much higher, offsetting his salary. You also have to take into account that a big chunk of Bledsoe's salary this year would have had to been spent anyway to meet minimum salary requirements.

I do wonder however if the deal they eventually agreed upon couldn't have been reached in the first week of free agency if only Bledsoe's camp were willing to listen. I don't think the Suns offered now anything they weren't willing to offer right away if negotiations continued.

 

[devilalum]

I definitely see them doing it for stretches each game. I still think the Suns have far too many guards but it will be fun to see them going full throttle for most of the game. Teams on the second game of a back to back are going to hate playing them.

Hopefully next season the Suns can find a legitimate big man. Perhaps Markieff continues to improve and he becomes a solid starter. I just hope he doesn't try to fill the Frye roll and regress back to bricking 3's the entire game.

Yeah, the guard thing is pretty absurd. It wouldn't be so bad if one or two more of them were swings. Too many little people.

 

[SO91]

...And i'll say that with a healthy Bledsoe, this deal is perfect for both parties. And there is NOTHING that would make me question the sun's medical staff on signing off on this deal. So all those who use the knee surgeries as a reason to justify this as a bad signing need to keep hush. Because a.) most if not all of you are not doctors b.) most if not all of you can relate to it c.) 100% of you have never seen or partaken in any part of Bledsoe's surgery/recovery/diagnosis/followup.

I do have a WebMD tab open as we speak, so that makes me a little more qualified than most. I guess there are people out there suggesting this is a bad signing, but I don't think you or anybody else can dismiss the skepticism I, and I assume a few others feel at the signing. I'm happy he'll be here until he's 29, and I'm excited to see how the team plays and morphs itself in the coming year or 2. I'll remain skeptical because of the knee injury, and the history this franchise has with bad knees. All of us know the history, so no need to go rehashing it in depth, but I do still remember how I felt when I heard about Amare's MF surgery soon after that contract was signed. Not trying to imply that EB's career as a Suns player will be the same, but that Amare experience will be with me for a long, long while anytime knee injuries/surgeries are in play.

 

[Superbone]

What's the over/under on average games played per season for the life of the contract?

 

[SO91]

It's not a bad contract for the Suns, provided, as management stated, he stays healthy and he continues improving. The guaranteed 5th year seemed to have been the major concession on Suns part, but by then the salary cap with be much higher, offsetting his salary. You also have to take into account that a big chunk of Bledsoe's salary this year would have had to been spent anyway to meet minimum salary requirements.

I do wonder however if the deal they eventually agreed upon couldn't have been reached in the first week of free agency if only Bledsoe's camp were willing to listen. I don't think the Suns offered now anything they weren't willing to offer right away if negotiations continued.

I'm of the opinion this deal absolutely could have been made much, much sooner than it was. The amount of time they spent not talking was absurd, and it seemed like it only took a day to reach an agreement.

 

[chickenhead]

Well, the worst-case scenario was failing to re-sign both Bledsoe and Dragic. That is now averted. Many of us expect Dragic to re-sign, and perhaps at favorable terms, but maybe we shouldn't. He might have expectations for his loyalty, and quite fairly. Plus, another team may simply be desperate and offer more than Phoenix is willing to match. IT may play himself into Dragic's job, too.

The most fun would be for Hornacek's system to be unique in the league, and fully embraced by all players at the position.

 

[devilalum]

I am optimistic about Bledsoe's health. I think after he came back last year he committed to playing closer to the ground and not going for those insane in traffic finishes at the rim. If he continues to play smarter like this it should go a long way towards keeping him healthy.

 

[95pro]

Not bad but I wish it was front loaded to give us flexibility in case he gets injured or so we can take care of Dragic and another for our "big 3".

 

[JCSunsfan]

I'm of the opinion this deal absolutely could have been made much, much sooner than it was. The amount of time they spent not talking was absurd, and it seemed like it only took a day to reach an agreement.

It took Rich Paul exhausting every other option he had and then coming up against the deadline before he came to the table. He was determined to get a 4/63 deal, but in the end just could not get there. While I hated the delay, it was in his rights to try up until the last minute.

 

[Covert Rain]

So now that this fiasco is over....it appears the Suns are going to sign Goran to a massive contract as well. So, we are going to have a TON of money wrapped up in our guards. Now what? Should be interesting to see if the Suns can do anything with their cap space next summer. This team still needs to pull off a big trade IMO to get another major piece to even sniff a title.

4 Guards and a PF at center is probably not a sound long term strategy on the court.

 

[SirStefan32]

So now that this fiasco is over....it appears the Suns are going to sign Goran to a massive contract as well. So, we are going to have a TON of money wrapped up in our guards. Now what? Should be interesting to see if the Suns can do anything with their cap space next summer. This team still needs to pull off a big trade IMO to get another major piece to even sniff a title.

4 Guards and a PF at center is probably not a sound long term strategy on the court.

Well, and that's what early skeptics of "Bledsoe/ Dragic back court" were saying from the very beginning. The question is whether you can build a team when 40-45% of your space is eaten up by two players who are VERY similar. The answer is no. Having said that, with salary cap expected to jump up like crazy, $30M or so in two combo guards is not going to be as big of a deal, so the answer very well may be that it is, indeed possible. I also think that IT's awesome contract makes up for the fact that Bledsoe (and Dragic, after this year) are slightly overpaid.

 

[crisper57]

What the Suns are trying to do with their roster:

You must be registered for see images attach

What they've assembled so far:

You must be registered for see images

 

[Chaz]

So now that this fiasco is over....it appears the Suns are going to sign Goran to a massive contract as well. So, we are going to have a TON of money wrapped up in our guards. Now what? Should be interesting to see if the Suns can do anything with their cap space next summer. This team still needs to pull off a big trade IMO to get another major piece to even sniff a title.

4 Guards and a PF at center is probably not a sound long term strategy on the court.

Really? Was this a humiliating failure in your mind? Because it wasn't done earlier or because of the final terms?

Fiasco: a thing that is a complete failure, especially in a ludicrous or humiliating way.

 

[Covert Rain]

Really? Was this a humiliating failure in your mind? Because it wasn't done earlier or because of the final terms?

Fiasco: a thing that is a complete failure, especially in a ludicrous or humiliating way.

It was humiliating for the Suns to be in the news once again with a player contract right or wrong. Perception goes along way in this league when it comes to players. You don't need further proof than the Suns being unable to acquire major pieces the last two times we had major cap space.

In reality both sides probably could have handled this better and gotten this done without all the hoopla. So the outcome might not be a fiasco but the handling of the entire thing was. It didn't have to go down this way IMO.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

I'm fine with having 2 of the 3 on the court at all times, considering the lack of talent at the 2 guard position league-wide, and the fact that Goran/Bledsoe can handle most 2's defensively.

I also can't see why we'd try to bring Zoran on board, outside of appeasing Goran.

That probably it. Guy loves PHX, appreciates the fact the team traded him and the owner came back to him, and his borther is playing here? Can you say home town discount???

Im happy about this Bledsoe signing. Fair deal IMO and pretty similar to what I called for once this whole mess went down. Works for both sides IMO.

#ASSETS

 

[Chaz]

It was humiliating for the Suns to be in the news once again with a player contract right or wrong. Perception goes along way in this league when it comes to players. You don't need further proof than the Suns being unable to acquire major pieces the last two times we had major cap space.

In reality both sides probably could have handled this better and gotten this done without all the hoopla. So the outcome might not be a fiasco but the handling of the entire thing was. It didn't have to go down this way IMO.

Isn't signing Bledsoe a major piece?

I don't get what the big deal is about how it went down. There were a lot of hand wringers and drama queens worrying that the relationship had soured but it turned out to be false. Signing the QO would have been a failure for both sides.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Beg to differ slightly... IF Bledsoe is healthy, this team could be a 6 or 5 seed, with A LOT of cap space going into next summer. And being a playoff team, WITH a young core WILL make us much more attractive as a FA destination. Gotta get to the playoffs to be taken seriously by anyone, and this move helps us continue to get ourselves back there.

Spot on.

Suns fans are the best. Always pissed. Thought the D'Antoni years would lead to more appreciation in WHAT YOU HAVE.

We have a 5 or 6 seed with the type of assets that can get us in on other players. MCD knows his ish....

 

[Covert Rain]

Spot on.

Suns fans are the best. Always pissed. Thought the D'Antoni years would lead to more appreciation in WHAT YOU HAVE.

That's sort of a broad stroke to paint. I thought those years were fun and blast to watch. However, let's not forget it still didn't garner a single title and D'Antoni's shortcoming were probably a major reason for that. I don't think fans should blindly appreciate everything about those years. There is a reason the guy is gone and has not repeated his success here.

Getting to the playoffs is fine goal to have but it's not the ultimate goal. I guess being in the playoffs is better than not being there but it's pretty obvious this team is not a serious title contender which makes it sort of empty. Having said that....there could be a rash of injuries or something and you would at least get a chance in that scenario.

We have a 5 or 6 seed with the type of assets that can get us in on other players. MCD knows his ish....

That is the key and I agree. We need assets to move to get other guys. I don't think we are a FA destination for Tier one players through FA.

 

[Cheesebeef]

It was humiliating for the Suns to be in the news once again with a player contract right or wrong. Perception goes along way in this league when it comes to players. You don't need further proof than the Suns being unable to acquire major pieces the last two times we had major cap space.

In reality both sides probably could have handled this better and gotten this done without all the hoopla. So the outcome might not be a fiasco but the handling of the entire thing was. It didn't have to go down this way IMO.

Humiliating? All media reports were that the Suns weren't at fault for a lack of negotiations.

 

[Chaplin]

That's sort of a broad stroke to paint. I thought those years were fun and blast to watch. However, let's not forget it still didn't garner a single title and D'Antoni's shortcoming were probably a major reason for that. I don't think fans should blindly appreciate everything about those years. There is a reason the guy is gone and has not repeated his success here.

Getting to the playoffs is fine goal to have but it's not the ultimate goal. I guess being in the playoffs is better than not being there but it's pretty obvious this team is not a serious title contender which makes it sort of empty. Having said that....there could be a rash of injuries or something and you would at least get a chance in that scenario.

To be fair, though, nobody thought we'd even be this close at this point. We're probably a good 2 years ahead of schedule in the rebuild.

That is the key and I agree. We need assets to move to get other guys. I don't think we are a FA destination for Tier one players through FA.

That's the next big goal now. Good young core? Check. Strong backcourt? Check. Winning culture? Next. The FAs will come.

 

[Chaplin]

Humiliating? All media reports were that the Suns weren't at fault for a lack of negotiations.

I think there are some people that forget that we offered this contract to Bledsoe pretty much right when we were able to. We didn't wait to see what kind of offers he might get on the open market. We pretty much said, we want you hear long-term, here's what we're offering. Sarver even publicly said that the door was open for negotiating.

I got the impression there was never a "take it or leave it" ultimatum on this contract.