Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe's best chance of getting a big contract is to sign his qualifying offer and become an unrestricted free agent next summer. If Bledsoe isn't traded and hits the market in 2015, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets are expected to make a run at him.
Bledsoe, currently a restricted free agent with Phoenix, seems unlikely to be traded. Despite an ESPN report claiming the Minnesota Timberwolves are willing to offer Bledsoe a max contract, a trade seems unlikely because few - if any - teams would be willing to give Phoenix any worthwhile assets when they can just wait and probably get Bledsoe for free in July.
With Minnesota purportedly offering him a max deal, Bledsoe now knows there's a market willing to pay him next summer and it's unlikely he'll agree to anything less than a max contract from Phoenix, who reportedly is willing to give only $48 million over four years.
Thus, Phoenix has two options to decide before Oct. 1: either lower their asking price for Bledsoe and find a sign-and-trade partner, or offer Bledsoe the max deal he purportedly wants.
If Bledsoe signs his qualifying offer, he risks hurting his worth by getting injured - he does have an injury history - but can hit the market in July as an unrestricted free agent.
Waiting for him in July reportedly will be the Lakers and the Rockets. NBA.com's David Aldridge is the latest to indicate the Lakers would pursue Bledsoe as a free agent next summer for his potential to be a franchise-caliber point guard.
Aldridge also reported the Rockets would make a play for Bledsoe if he becomes an unrestricted free agent. Like Los Angeles, Houston wants to upgrade at point guard and sees Bledsoe as a 24-year-old with huge upside.
More importantly, both teams will have the salary cap space to offer Bledsoe the big contract he purportedly wants.
