The Minnesota Timberwolves have reportedly offered a max contract to restricted free-agent point guard Eric Bledsoe of the Phoenix Suns, according to ESPN NBA correspondent Brian Windhorst on Friday.
The Timberwolves suddenly made an aggressive move on the free-agency market in the wake of dealing away franchise player Kevin Love to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Andrew Wiggins, Anthony Bennett and a first-round pick, and another separate transaction that allowed them to acquire Thaddeus Young from the Philadelphia 76ers.
According to Windhorst, the T-Wolves offered Bledsoe a max deal worth $63 million over four-years. Bledsoe and the Suns have been on a stalemate since the start of the free-agency period, as the camp of the former Kentucky Wildcats star continues to demand for a deal worth $83 million over five years.
But getting Bledsoe would not be straightforward trade, as cap restrictions required the Timberwolves and the Suns to work on a sign-and-trade deal, according to Windhorst.
"The Wolves are offering Bledsoe the four-year, $63 million maximum level contract that he has been seeking, sources said, but because of cap restrictions, the only way he can join the team as currently constructed is through a sign-and-trade deal."
Who's Going to be Wolves' Trade Bait?
Like the Suns, the Timberwolves are also on a contract stalemate with their point guard. According to reports, Ricky Rubio's camp rejected a four-year and demanded a five-year max contract.
Many analysts considers Rubio an excellent passing point guard, but his inability to knockdown jumpers in an efficient rate limits him to make a big impact on the floor, and thus he's not any near of a max player level.
"Rubio is a fine point guard. He's a nifty passer and effective defender at a position where defense is lacking, but his inability to shoot from outside really limits his impact. He's just 23, so I expect him to improve, but you can't pay him anywhere near the max until he shows much more progress," according to NBC Sports Dan Feldman.
With the Timberwolves making a late push for Bledsoe, there are speculations that Rubio could be used as a trade chip should the Suns agreed to let their point guard walk away.
The 23-year old Rubio averaged 9.5 points and 8.6 assists last season with the Wolves, and could be a perfect complement to Suns playmaker Goran Dragic. On the other hand, Bledsoe averaged 17.7 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game last year after he was traded by the Los Angeles Clippers to the Valley of the Suns.
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