Suns, Eric Bledsoe Far Apart In Talks

[Sci Fi]

I can't tell if you are a douche bag or just a troll. Either way, thanks for ruining an awesome discussion.

So I ruined an awesome conversation (which I largely started and kept going?)

Good to know. I'll try to correct that henceforth.

 

[Sci Fi]

Amazing. Simply amazing!

As the old saying goes, "I love me, who do you love?"

What's amazing.

Some people are good.

Ha ha ha.

 

[Phoenix219]

Pau Gasol.

Watch what he does next year.

The Suns lost him for Tyler Ennis and some f*ck in Europe people have never heard of.

I wanted to trade for him during the playoff push last year, but I never saw any indication that it was ths Suns that turned down a fair deal; Honestly, I think LA wanted more then we were willing to pay. I'm not sure if it was every an actually valid trade possibility.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I wanted to trade for him during the playoff push last year, but I never saw any indication that it was ths Suns that turned down a fair deal; Honestly, I think LA wanted more then we were willing to pay. I'm not sure if it was every an actually valid trade possibility.

It wasn't. Pau was injured, he had no interest in coming to the desert according to reports and Kupchak made it pretty clear he had no desire to trade Gasol for anything less than real basketball value. Most "experts" thought it was a doable deal because the Lakers would have saved a lot of money but Mitch, after the deadline, made it clear that the Lakers were above such things.

Steve

 

[Sci Fi]

How the hell do you know Steve?

Your post is nothing but a bunch of ****.

 

[AzStevenCal]

How the hell do you know Steve?

Your post is nothing but a bunch of ****.

Show some proof, acknowledge it's opinion, or ****.

I'm going to miss you when you're gone.

Google it, you've already told us what an expert you are. I'm not your little slave. Its made the rounds before but there was an interview with Kupchak right after the deadline where he made the comments I referred to.

Steve

 

[Cheesebeef]

How the hell do you know Steve?

Your post is nothing but a bunch of ****.

this is an epic flameout. thanks for the entertainment before i move off for tonight's festivities!

 

[elindholm]

So I ruined an awesome conversation (which I largely started and kept going?)

Good to know. I'll try to correct that henceforth.

I wonder whether you have any inkling of what an outrageous fool you look like. It's amazing that posters here have humored you for as long as they have. You're at exactly the same level as a five-year-old who says, "I know you are, but what am I?"

 

[Sci Fi]

this is an epic flameout. thanks for the entertainment before i move off for tonight's festivities!

If it's an epic flameout, let it be known.

cheesebeef is the ..............

ha ha

you ****s are lost .

 

[Town Drunk]

http://www.am570radio.com/articles/...s-need-fair-deal-to-trade-pau-gasol-12087938/

 

[AzStevenCal]

http://www.am570radio.com/articles/...s-need-fair-deal-to-trade-pau-gasol-12087938/

Yeah, Mitch kind of beats around the bush there about needing value but there's another interview out there where he went further. He was asked about money they'd save from the Okafor contract and he said that they would never give up a quality basketball player just to save money. He then, arrogantly IMO, said something along the lines of "other organizations do that but we're the Lakers, we never worry about money". He also said the offers they received wouldn't have substantially improved them as a basketball team.

I remember at the time thinking that we probably drew the line at the Washington pick and they wanted their own pick also. I'm glad we didn't meet his demands. Especially since there were multiple sources that say we contacted his agent and they either wouldn't tell us that Pau would re-sign or they straight out told us he wouldn't re-sign with us.

Steve

 

[Phrazbit]

Just got caught up on this thread...

Hats off to this forum. Just about any other site I've been a member to would had things get really ugly in response to tonight's troll's antics. Its refreshing to see a site with such minimal moderation presence handle such such buffoonery with a guffaw and a shrug.

 

[Chaplin]

Just got caught up on this thread...

Hats off to this forum. Just about any other site I've been a member to would had things get really ugly in response to tonight's troll's antics. Its refreshing to see a site with such minimal moderation presence handle such such buffoonery with a guffaw and a shrug.

I think it might be different if it was a brand new troll who nobody had ever seen before. But this is a guy that has done this over and over again. It stops being intelligent discussion and becomes high comedy. Unfortunate for those of us that like the intelligent discussion, but that's the fact of the matter.

 

[chickenhead]

I'm as anxious as anyone for Bledsoe to sign, but the only thing he'd done wrong is make the "using restricted free agency against him" comment. And even that wasn't that bad in context. After all, it is a CBA that resulted from a lockout, and Bledsoe's former team was just allegedly sold for $2 billion.

Bledsoe's in a tough position here (again, in context). He's not getting the 5th year that his agent asked for. The Suns have used RFA effectively, and the other 4-year options have largely dried up. On the court, the Suns want to use Bledsoe in a combo system, whereas he probably wants the Chris Paul role he backed up in LA. The Suns also need to pay the other half of the combo next year, which is just more downward pressure.

He has over a month and a half to sign the QO, though. I guess there's no hurry unless the Suns offer is going to expire or drop, and neither of those things seems likely at present.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

I think it might be different if it was a brand new troll who nobody had ever seen before. But this is a guy that has done this over and over again. It stops being intelligent discussion and becomes high comedy. Unfortunate for those of us that like the intelligent discussion, but that's the fact of the matter.

Yep, par for the course.

 

[Mainstreet]

I was reading an article in which Pistons owner Tom Gores comes out all optimistic about reaching a contract agreement with Greg Monroe. Also I see they are offering Monroe a four-year, $54 million deal.

“We think Greg is a great player," Gores said. "First of all, he’s done a really great job of establishing himself as a player in Detroit. He’s shown great respect to the city and as a young man he’s really done everything we could ask of him.

“With Greg we just believe in him. I’d like Greg to really get excited about being in Detroit because he deserves it. He’s really been good to the city. You’ve seen him. He’s good to the city. Stan is going to have to figure out exactly everybody’s role, but we’re believers in Greg Monroe. He’s not just a great player; he also has a good basketball character. I know it’s been a lot of the off-season stuff, but I’m a believer in Greg Monroe.”

I do not see the same optimism coming out of the Suns camp although Sarver apparently tried to put some salve on the situation in a radio interview. The interview appeared to be a response to an open letter to Bledsoe written by John Gambadoro. I can see the Suns offering the same amount to Bledsoe in closed negotiations.

So my guess is Bledsoe, like Monroe, wants even more money. This makes me lean even more to a sign and trade if the Suns can find a partner.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wireta...l-Expect-To-Resolve-Contract-With-Greg-Monroe

http://www.arizonasports.com/41/1755048/An-open-letter-to-Eric-Bledsoe

 

[devilalum]

Sarver said he's willing to come to the table. If Bledsoe thinks he's a max player why doesn't he negotiate something like 3 years $38 mil with a player option for the 4th year at 14. If he's as good as he thinks he is he can opt out and get a max deal anywhere he wants. If he's perpetually injured he can take the final year. He's only 24.

Also, I haven't read anywhere about Bledsoe being good to Phoenix.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Sarver said he's willing to come to the table. If Bledsoe thinks he's a max player why doesn't he negotiate something like 3 years $38 mil with a player option for the 4th year at 14. If he's as good as he thinks he is he can opt out and get a max deal anywhere he wants. If he's perpetually injured he can take the final year. He's only 24.

Also, I haven't read anywhere about Bledsoe being good to Phoenix.

I have no problem with the way we've handled our business here. I think Paul is trying to create leverage he simply doesn't have. Any movement on our part now is a sign of weakness IMO.

Steve

 

[devilalum]

I have no problem with the way we've handled our business here. I think Paul is trying to create leverage he simply doesn't have. Any movement on our part now is a sign of weakness IMO.

Steve

But Sarver basically said publicly that he'd give a little if Bledsoe came to the table.

 

[AzStevenCal]

But Sarver basically said publicly that he'd give a little if Bledsoe came to the table.

That's my point, Sarver doesn't need to go any further. He's made it clear he's willing to discuss and negotiate, he doesn't need to make a statement like the Detroit owner did. At some point, Paul will either decide to do his job as an agent and negotiate or he'll screw over his client and take the QO. But the next step IMO has to come from Bledsoe's camp.

Steve

 

[Phoenix219]

That's my point, Sarver doesn't need to go any further. He's made it clear he's willing to discuss and negotiate, he doesn't need to make a statement like the Detroit owner did. At some point, Paul will either decide to do his job as an agent and negotiate or he'll screw over his client and take the QO. But the next step IMO has to come from Bledsoe's camp.

Steve

Which makes it all seem even more, to me, like Bledsoe's end goal is getting out, rather then coming in good faith to negotiate a larger contract.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Which makes it all seem even more, to me, like Bledsoe's end goal is getting out, rather then coming in good faith to negotiate a larger contract.

Or Paul believes he's smarter and stronger than everyone else so naturally, we'll blink. Which is why I think it's important we don't make the next move.

Steve

 

[Mainstreet]

Which makes it all seem even more, to me, like Bledsoe's end goal is getting out, rather then coming in good faith to negotiate a larger contract.

If so, some team must be willing to offer Bledsoe at least 4/48 or more and are willing to do a sign and trade. I hope the Suns are now willing to pursue this option. Maybe the hang up now, the Suns are not getting the assets they want in return.

 

[Phrazbit]

If so, some team must be willing to offer Bledsoe at least 4/48 or more and are willing to do a sign and trade. I hope the Suns are now willing to pursue this option. Maybe the hang up now, the Suns are not getting the assets they want in return.

Or that the Suns have 100% of the leverage, they've preached patience and there is no reason for them to change strategy at this point.

With how many leaks there are around the league with Bledsoe's agent wanting to drive the price up, if a sign and trade were on the table, I expect we'd have heard about it.

 

[Chaz]

Agree with the sentiment that the Suns are handling their business and patience is a virtue.
If Bledsoe or his agent are taking the hard line that it is the max or nothing then that is his problem.