Timberwolves Offer Eric Bledsoe Max Contract – http://t.co/b2SBFMi1dF pic.twitter.com/EoktDkBa7Y
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) September 19, 2014
The Minnesota Timberwolves are making a last minute push to upgrade their roster before the start of training camp.
According to ESPN, the Wolves are offering restricted free-agent guard Eric Bledsoe of the Phoenix Suns a four-year $63 million maximum level contract.
ESPN says sources report the only way Bledsoe can join the Wolves is through a sign-and-trade deal because of salary cap restrictions.
Bledsoe averaged 17.7 points and 5.5 assists in 43 games for the Suns last year after he was traded to Phoenix from the Los Angeles Clippers.
Bledsoe has been clear that he is only interested in signing a max contract, otherwise he would opt for a one-year $3.7 million qualifying offer from Phoenix that would allow him to become an unrestricted free agent next year.
ESPN says the relationship between Bledsoe and the Suns has soured during the contract negotiations, though. Phoenix offered him a four-year $48 million contract in July and there has been little communication between the sides since.
Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski reports the Suns are not interested in trading Bledsoe to the Wolves now. He writes:
“The Suns would want an All-star – or potential All-Star – in return for Bledsoe and had only considered Kevin Love in a possible sign-and-trade scenario with the Timberwolves.”
According to Wojnarowski, the Suns and Wolves discussed a trade for Bledsoe that involved Kevin Love before the Wolves dealt Love to Cleveland as part of a three-team deal that brought them Andrew Wiggins, Anthony Bennett and Thaddeus Young.
