With news Eric Bledsoe is leaning toward signing the Phoenix Suns' qualifying offer, the Los Angeles Lakers reportedly will pursue the point guard in free agency next summer.
Bledsoe, presently a restricted free agent, and Phoenix are at odds over a contract. The 24-year-old purportedly wants a maximum five-year deal around $80 million, but the Suns are willing to offer only a four-year deal worth just over $48 million. The $4 million difference, along with the zero offers from other teams, reportedly now has Bledsoe considering signing Phoenix's qualifying offer and risking injury to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
If Bledsoe does sign the qualifying offer and goes on the market in 2015, the Lakers may see him as their potential 1-guard of the future.
"Having been linked to Bledsoe this summer, the Lakers have the chance to offer him the contract that he is seeking (although they can't offer a five-year deal like the Suns)," Fansided's Chris Walton wrote Friday. "Next season, they will have only four players under contract (Kobe Bryant, Nick Young, Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson). With a possible increase of cap room around $80 million, the Lakers should have around $20 million in cap space, enough for a max deal."
Whether Bledsoe is worth a max deal is another question.
Los Angeles could also choose to pursue Boston Celtics star Rajon Rondo next summer, when his current contract expires.
As for Bledsoe, teams appear unwilling to give him an offer sheet because of the league-wide feeling Phoenix would match it, regardless of the price. Teams who would be interested in him, though, include the Houston Rockets and the Milwaukee Bucks.
Bledsoe has until Oct. 1 to sign the Suns' qualifying offer.
