National Basketball Association

Reports: T-wolves to offer Bledsoe max deal, but need Suns' help

Published Sep. 19, 2014 6:37 p.m. ET

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The Minnesota Timberwolves reportedly just thrust themselves into this summer's miles-from-compelling game of chicken between restricted free agent Eric Bledsoe and the Phoenix Suns.

According to a couple reports, the T-wolves are hoping to add the 24-year-old point guard to their recent youth movement by preparing the maximum free-agent contract Bledsoe's camp sought since the season ended.

The news of this max offer first came from FOX 10's Jude LaCava. If a deal doesn't happen by the end-of-the-month deadline, Bledsoe signs a qualifying offer with the Suns of $3.73 million -- which would transform him into an unrestricted free agent next summer and virtually guarantee he heads elsewhere next season.

But there are a couple catches.

First, this max offer still is considerably less than what the Suns could offer on a max deal for their own player -- but the four-year, $63 million supposedly dangled by Minnesota is $15 million more than Phoenix put on the table for Bledsoe earlier this summer.

Second, the T-wolves lack sufficient cap room to make such a bold move, thus necessitating the Suns to participate in a sign-and-trade transaction.

No names were listed as part of a potential Suns return in an ESPN report; it should be noted forward Thaddeus Young, recently acquired from the Philadelphia 76ers, is not eligible to be moved again until Oct. 23. Any speculation putting top overall draft pick Andrew Wiggins (reeled in by the T-wolves in that Kevin Love trade with Cleveland) in Arizona would qualify for super-longshot status.

We're also obliged to assume four years in Minnesota would suit Bledsoe -- who grew up in Alabama, played one year of college ball at Kentucky and prefaced his Arizona season by working in Los Angeles -- just fine. That extra $15 million would buy a lot of warm clothes.

As for the Suns' possible return, we'd probably have to see Minnesota surrender at least one young player with (at least) above average potential while attempting to rid itself of a bad contract.

Beyond Wiggins, the T-wolves also have fellow ridiculously athletic rookie Zach LaVine, undersized four-man Anthony Bennett (the first overall pick from the 2013 draft) and a player with legitimate-interest potential in second-year center Gorgui Dieng.

They also have the expiring, $4.5 million contract of diminutive guard J.J. Barea, offensive-minded mercenary two-guard Kevin Martin and sweet passing, brick-slinging point guard Ricky Rubio, who could be a restricted free agent next summer.

Minnesota has attempted to move Barea for a while. With Isaiah Thomas already in Phoenix, Barea would seem like a candidate to be dumped after helping facilitate contractual congruity for a sign-and-trade of Bledsoe.

Martin has a contract that will pay him about $21 million over the next three seasons. It's unlikely to be paid by the Suns.

The notion of pairing Rubio with Bledsoe in Minnesota or Goran Dragic in Phoenix doesn't seem anywhere near as deadly as Bledsoe working with Dragic here.

Without Wiggins involved, a deal seems quite unlikely.

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