Sign-and-trades for restricted free agents Eric Bledsoe and Greg Monroe appear unlikely to happen. An anonymous general manager said teams are holding off and waiting for next summer, when both players could become unrestricted free agents.
Bledsoe and Monroe are in the land of limbo known as restricted free agency. They're both unwilling to sign the qualifying offers from their respective teams, seemingly out of hope for a bigger contract or for an offer from another team. Offers, though, haven't been coming and a general manager who wished to remain anonymous said doesn't see that changing anytime soon.
"I think any one of us would be wary of getting involved in a trade for either player," the general manager told Sporting News. "Their teams overvalue them in terms of making trades, they don't want to give them away for nothing. There's no reason to give up significant assets for players who probably will be available next summer. That doesn't mean a deal can't get done, but it is complicated."
Bledsoe and Monroe are in different situations. Whereas Bledsoe wants more money, Monroe seems just to want out of Detroit.
Phoenix arguably low-balled Bledsoe with a four-year, $48 million offer and has refused to budge from that number. Although originally against trading Bledsoe, Phoenix now reportedly is open to moving him.
"I'll tell you this, and I think this is the first time it's reported, I do believe in my NBA sources," local Phoenix broadcaster Joe LaCava told FoxSports 910 Wednesday, via SB Nation. "You can take this to the bank, so to speak, the Suns are now discussing trade possibilities for Eric Bledsoe.
"That's the new chapter to this and I wouldn't back off that information. I think it's 100 (percent) correct."
Bledsoe purportedly has interest from the Los Angeles Lakers, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Houston Rockets.
Monroe recently denied a report claiming Detroit had offered him $60 million over five years.
Both players have three options: 1) get traded, 2) agree to a new deal with their respective teams, or 3) sign their qualifying offers, play the season out and become unrestricted free agents next summer.
