Bledsoe has reached impasse with Suns over a new deal…
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The Minnesota Timberwolves have reportedly offered free-agent guard Eric Bledsoe a four-year deal worth $63m in a sign-and-trade with the Phoenix Suns.
The Wolves are understood to be willing to offer Bledsoe the deal that he has been seeking from the Suns this summer, but due to cap restrictions, he will only be able to switch teams through a sign-and-trade deal, as reported by ESPN.
Bledsoe averaged 17.7 points and 5.5 assists in 43 games last season after being traded from the Los Angeles Clippers, but his preparations for the new season have been disrupted by surgery on a meniscus injury to his right knee.
Nevertheless, the 24-year-old is widely regarded as one of the most talented young guards in the league, and so Minnesota appear eager to add to their already youthful roster.
The Timberwolves acquired No.1 overall Draft pick Andrew Wiggins in a trade deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers which sent Kevin Love in the opposite direction, and the franchise reportedly want to make a strong run at making Bledsoe his running mate.
Along with the likes of Anthony Bennett, Zach LaVine and Ricky Rubio, Minnesota have undoubtedly made a conscious effort of building for the future, and Bledsoe would improve them significant in the long-term.
While he has made it clear to the Suns that he would only be interested in signing a max contract, the other option that he would have to take if that failed would be to sign a one-year qualifying deal worth $3.7m which would mean he would become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
His relationship with the franchise has diminished over the past few months as they signed free-agent guard Isaiah Thomas to a four-year deal worth $27m this summer while they also drafted guard Tyler Ennis in the first round in June.
As a result, it looks as though it will only be a matter of time before Bledsoe leaves Phoenix, but it remains to be seen whether or not Minnesota are able to come up with an offer that they are willing to listen to.
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