The Bledsoe dilemma

[Gaddabout]

For $10 million, he has to shoot better than 40 percent a game. He has to shoot better than his career 43 percent, too. Get it up over 45 percent overall and over 35 percent from 3-pt. land, and we'll talk.

I'm inclined to let him walk if his shooting numbers remain that low. Go get a legit 2-guard who's long and shoot.

 

[sunsfan88]

Ok, after reading this article, it makes much more sense why we didn't resign Bledsoe.

However, I have some very good news for Suns fans. The more you understand about cap holds, the more you will see the genius behind waiting to re-sign Eric Bledsoe until after next summer's feeding frenzy.

Bledsoe's "cap hold" while he is a restricted free agent is only $6.57 million. No matter how big the offer he gets, the Suns only have to keep $6.57 million in cap room available to match any offer from another team.

"From the Suns' perspective," Suns President Lon Babby said to Paul Coro of azcentral.com last week regarding not extending Bledsoe just yet, "It needs to be considered from the context that Eric will be a restricted free agent in the summer, which gives us matching rights. In the end, it seemed prudent to wait until July. In the meantime, we will be rooting for Eric to have a great season."

Babby later confirmed to me that "We can match an offer sheet with Bird rights. Salary in offer sheet is included in team salary once team gives right of first refusal exercise notice."

So not only do the Suns have the right to match any offer, they don't even have to have all the cap space to do it (just the cap hold), while the signing team needs every penny of the offered salary. The Suns can use their Bird Rights on Bledsoe to exceed the cap to re-sign him (for anything bigger than his cap hold).

Now you can see more reason why the Suns waited and why Bledsoe waited as well. Bledsoe will still get every penny, and then some, without strapping the Suns cap future yet. In the two weeks or so it takes to match a Bledsoe offer next July, the Suns will have $4-7 million more dollars to spend in free agency (the difference between his cap hold and the likely offer amount).

Clever.

And by just doing a little more creative finagling to reduce cap number even further, the Suns could offer a mini-max contract to a free agent small forward or power forward (whichever hole remains after the draft) to pair with a re-signed Eric Bledsoe and the returning young core.

Imagine this current Suns team with a top-5 pick AND a top free agent next summer to fill the forward spots around Len/Plumlee and Dragic/Bledsoe/Goodwin. The best free agents will be restricted (like Bledsoe, 2010 draftees) who were not extended this fall, two of whom are named Gordon Hayward and Greg Monroe.

Even if the Suns don't want to spend all that money next summer, depending on trades between now and then, why tie up the money when you don't have to do it? Better to stay flexible as long as possible.

In the end, the Suns are in better shape than you might have thought next summer.

http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2...date-lots-of-recent-activity-still-adds-up-to

 

[ProdigalSun]

nice article. That was elucidating thanks for the read

 

[AzStevenCal]

The more I think about that article the more I think it's mostly rationalization or spin. I'm not saying it didn't play some small part but let's face it, a week ago all the talk was about trying to reach a deal with him and it's not like the cap didn't exist before we started negotiations with him. This "revelation" might have carried more weight if it had been mentioned prior to the deadline instead of afterwards.

Steve

 

[SirStefan32]

The more I think about that article the more I think it's mostly rationalization or spin. I'm not saying it didn't play some small part but let's face it, a week ago all the talk was about trying to reach a deal with him and it's not like the cap didn't exist before we started negotiations with him. This "revelation" might have carried more weight if it had been mentioned prior to the deadline instead of afterwards.

Steve

I'd think you always want to see if you can make a deal that will make both sides 100% happy. Rationalization or not, it makes sense if they just couldn't make a deal that made both sides completely happy.

I am not really sold on Bledsoe anyway, so I might be a bit biased. It very well may sound reasonable to me, but it may actually be 100% spin.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I'd think you always want to see if you can make a deal that will make both sides 100% happy. Rationalization or not, it makes sense if they just couldn't make a deal that made both sides completely happy.

I am not really sold on Bledsoe anyway, so I might be a bit biased. It very well may sound reasonable to me, but it may actually be 100% spin.

I'm sold on him, I'm just not sure what I've bought in to. I really like his effort on the defensive end and I love having a guy with the quickness and strength to penetrate at will. I have no idea if he can become a superstar (or even close) but I think in his own he's already a difference maker. If we have to part with him, fine, I just hope we don't watch him walk for nothing as we've had to do before. And as I said, that article would have had a lot more credibility if they'd floated that information a week ago instead of the "we're working hard on a deal" statement we kept hearing.

Steve

 

[JCSunsfan]

I'm sold on him, I'm just not sure what I've bought in to. I really like his effort on the defensive end and I love having a guy with the quickness and strength to penetrate at will. I have no idea if he can become a superstar (or even close) but I think in his own he's already a difference maker. If we have to part with him, fine, I just hope we don't watch him walk for nothing as we've had to do before. And as I said, that article would have had a lot more credibility if they'd floated that information a week ago instead of the "we're working hard on a deal" statement we kept hearing.

Steve

You can almost always work a sign and trade with a rfa because the team has so much leverage. I cannot see him walking for nothing.

 

[95pro]

Doesn't he remind you of Westbrook when he first started to breakout. Turnovers and lack of touch when shooting.

 

[Superbone]

I read somewhere that only three players in recent times have signed extensions after joining new teams. Harden was one of them. I'm not too worried about it.

 

[TJ]

I'm sold on him, I'm just not sure what I've bought in to. I really like his effort on the defensive end and I love having a guy with the quickness and strength to penetrate at will. I have no idea if he can become a superstar (or even close) but I think in his own he's already a difference maker. If we have to part with him, fine, I just hope we don't watch him walk for nothing as we've had to do before. And as I said, that article would have had a lot more credibility if they'd floated that information a week ago instead of the "we're working hard on a deal" statement we kept hearing.

Steve

Not sure it's much of a big deal not re-signing him. While I'm sold on him as well, it's important to be prudent with the way we handle his contract. He has never been a consistent starter or top dog on any team, so the argument can be made that the team wants to evaluate him before giving him a big contract. And if he earns it, the open market will dictate his value and we can match any offer that is given. My hope is he plays like a max contract player and gets rewarded accordingly. I truly think he can be part of something special, and believed that even when he was with the Clip Show.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Doesn't he remind you of Westbrook when he first started to breakout. Turnovers and lack of touch when shooting.

Not to me. He doesn't have Westbrook's size/length which combined with outrageous athleticism is what makes him dominant.

But, Bledsoe is incredibly quick and strong. Would love to see him shoot less threes though. That ain't his game.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Not to me. He doesn't have Westbrook's size/length which combined with outrageous athleticism is what makes him dominant.

But, Bledsoe is incredibly quick and strong. Would love to see him shoot less threes though. That ain't his game.

Yep... Totally agree. I don't see Westbrook at all in Bledsoe...

 

[AzStevenCal]

I understand what he meant when he compared Bledsoe to an early version of Westbrook. They had some of the same flaws and limitations and they showed some of the same flashes. They both played solid man defense and they were at their best when penetrating but take away that penetration and they struggled running an offense. The difference in height certainly weakens the comparison but I do see the similarity. Unfortunately, in a league where height and length are so critical, Bledsoe's ceiling is nowhere near that of Westbrook's.

Steve

 

[JS22]

I see an unpolished, stronger version of Kevin Johnson. KJ was able to develop an above average mid-range jumpshot. If Bledsoe can do the same he's going to be really, really good. He also needs to cut down on his turnorvers but I think that will come with time as the team gels. And once he gets some better players around him.

 

[JCSunsfan]

He needs to improve his shooting percentage--dramatically. That has as much to do with shot selection as it does with shooting skill.

 

[Griffin]

Through three games, Bledsoe is averaging 22.0 ppg, 8.7 apg, 6.3 rpg, 2.0 spg, and 11 (!) free throw attempts per game. On the downside, he is also averaging 5.7 (!) turnovers per game and shooting only 41% from the floor, 22% from 3-point range.

 

[Gaddabout]

Through three games, Bledsoe is averaging 22.0 ppg, 8.7 apg, 6.3 rpg, 2.0 spg, and 11 (!) free throw attempts per game. On the downside, he is also averaging 5.7 (!) turnovers per game and shooting only 41% from the floor, 22% from 3-point range.

But, you know, keep shooting, Eric. And stop passing to the Morri.

 

[sunsfan88]

I understand what he meant when he compared Bledsoe to an early version of Westbrook. They had some of the same flaws and limitations and they showed some of the same flashes. They both played solid man defense and they were at their best when penetrating but take away that penetration and they struggled running an offense. The difference in height certainly weakens the comparison but I do see the similarity. Unfortunately, in a league where height and length are so critical, Bledsoe's ceiling is nowhere near that of Westbrook's.

Steve

I think Bledsoe is a crossover between Kyle Lowry and Westbrook.

 

[sunsfan88]

McDonough added that of the 2010 draft class that Bledsoe is a member of, just a handful of players have agreed to contract extensions, and those were "maximum salary guys." As such, many others were in the same boat as the Suns, who were looking to come to terms with a player who had not yet proven to be a maximum contract player.

After all, while Bledsoe had flashed great potential, he had never put it all together and consistently played like a star.

"Any extensions less than the max can be a little bit tricky, but we knew that going into it and we're very confident that Eric's going to be a Sun for a long time."

http://arizonasports.com/41/1675151/HES-OURS

I don't think we have to worry about McDonough giving him the max.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I see an unpolished, stronger version of Kevin Johnson. KJ was able to develop an above average mid-range jumpshot. If Bledsoe can do the same he's going to be really, really good. He also needs to cut down on his turnorvers but I think that will come with time as the team gels. And once he gets some better players around him.

My son was a big Suns fan growing up, but going through grad school he has had very little time to watch. He recently went to the opener and when he cam home he said, "The Suns have this new pg that plays just like Stephon Marbury."

I agree. He is Marbury, with better D.

 

[AzStevenCal]

My son was a big Suns fan growing up, but going through grad school he has had very little time to watch. He recently went to the opener and when he cam home he said, "The Suns have this new pg that plays just like Stephon Marbury."

I agree. He is Marbury, with better D.

I'm not much of a Marbury fan so I hope you guys are wrong about him. I don't really see the comparison though. OTOH, Stephen Marbury was considered one of the better PG's for awhile there and if we have a version of him that is also a strong defender that can't be all bad.

Steve

 

[elindholm]

I agree. He is Marbury, with better D.

Marbury is definitely a better comparison than Johnson, I agree. I've been thinking Marbury myself for the last few games.

 

[Phrazbit]

I think athletically he is like Marbury, his build reminds me of Marbury. But Marbury was empty stats. He would dribble away 80% of the shot clock before initiating the offense. I really really hated the way he played point, sure, it made stats for him but the offenses he was in charge of all stunk, he'd get assists because so much of the shot clock was gone before he did anything that the "extra pass" was not an option. Bledsoe is much more aggressive at attacking the defense and pushing the pace, sometimes he is so aggressive that its bad and he gets out of control, but I'd still take that over Marbury.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I think athletically he is like Marbury, his build reminds me of Marbury. But Marbury was empty stats. He would dribble away 80% of the shot clock before initiating the offense. I really really hated the way he played point, sure, it made stats for him but the offenses he was in charge of all stunk, he'd get assists because so much of the shot clock was gone before he did anything that the "extra pass" was not an option. Bledsoe is much more aggressive at attacking the defense and pushing the pace, sometimes he is so aggressive that its bad and he gets out of control, but I'd still take that over Marbury.

Yeah, this pretty much sums it up for me. I don't see Marbury when I watch Bledsoe because the one thing Marbury did that irritated me so much, Eric just doesn't do. Watching Marbury was like watching Barkley (without all the good things Barkley could do) - just keep pounding the ball and forget you have teammates.

Steve

 

[slinslin]

Bledsoe is more like Baron Davis than Marbury.

He will put up a few triple doulbes this season surely.