The Minnesota Timberwolves reportedly are adamant about luring Phoenix Suns restricted free agent Eric Bledsoe with the promise of a maximum-level contract. If Minnesota were to trade for Bledsoe, they'd need to entice Phoenix and possibly another team into a sign-and-trade to make the numbers work.
ESPN reported Friday the Timberwolves were trying to snag Bledsoe away from Phoenix with a max contract offer. Jabari Davis of Basketball Insiders touched on the report and pointed out a third team would likely need to become involved to facilitate the trade.
"It appears Bledsoe could be on the move to Minnesota if the reports are accurate about a max contract offer from the Twolves," Davis wrote Saturday. "We know they would have to either shed salary or work out a sign-&-trade due to being somewhere around the $71 million mark. It will be interesting to see if they are able to work something out and if it comes down to finding a third party to connect the dots."
Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski reported Friday the Suns were uninterested in trading Bledsoe, but the team's tune could change with the Oct. 1 deadline looming for him to sign his qualifying offer. If Bledsoe signs Phoenix's one-year offer, Phoenix would get nothing in return for him when he becomes a free agent next summer. For that reason, trading Bledsoe makes sense.
What Minnesota would offer, though, is uncertain. The Timberwolves are unlikely to sell the house for Bledsoe when he's likely going to be a free agent next summer. As of now, Minnesota has three assets that are most likely to be used in a trade: 1) future draft picks, 2) Ricky Rubio and 3) Anthony Bennett.
As mentioned, swapping a draft pick for Bledsoe seems unlikely - why mortgage your future when you can get him as a free agent in July? - unless Minnesota is desperate for Bledsoe now.
Rubio reportedly wants a max contract, which the Timberwolves seem hesitant to give. He's unlikely to be Phoenix's first choice, though, because his contract situation - he becomes a restricted free agent next summer and wants a big deal - is identical to Bledsoe's situation this summer. Moving Rubio is where a third team would likely become involved.
Bennett supposedly figures to be a big piece of Minnesota's future, and having a season to develop under veteran Thaddeus Young should help his development. Again, would Minnesota want to mortgage their future on a player they can get for free next summer?
Minnesota seemingly leaking their willingness to give Bledsoe a max contract puts Phoenix in a difficult situation. If Bledsoe knows there's a market for him next summer, he's almost certain not to compromise with the Suns on a new deal and instead sign his qualifying offer, play the season out, hope he doesn't get injured and get his big payday as an unrestricted free agent in the summer.
Phoenix, at this point, is likely asking: Is getting something better than nothing?
