With just days before things get underway at training camp, The Minnesota Timberwolves are trying to acquire the Phoenix Suns' Eric Bledsoe in a sign and trade.
Bledsoe has rejected Phoenix's last offer of four years and $48 million, and he has been contemplating taking the teams $3.7 million qualifying offer which would make him an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. Reportedly, his relationship with the Suns is almost past repair.
If he took the qualifying offer, it means he could walk and leave Phoenix to get nothing in return for him. Although it is somewhat rare, Greg Monroe took the qualifying offer route in Detroit, and now he is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next summer. Bledsoe has until Oct. 1 to make a decision to stay in Phoenix or make a deal with another team.
The Timberwolves are reportedly offering 4 years $63 million.
Discussions of sending Bledsoe to Minnesota originated several months ago as part of larger proposals for Kevin Love, and to appease Bledsoe, who made it clear he wanted a max deal. Bledsoe was reportedly offered to Minnesota for Love just before the Timberwolves' deal with Cleveland became official, but Minnesota rejected that offer.
According to ESPN, The Wolves, who acquired No. 1 overall pick Andrew Wiggins after trading Love to the Cleveland Cavaliers last month, see Bledsoe as a strong running partner to their new franchise player. Reportedly, they have made some aggressive offers to Phoenix to try to get them to accept a deal.
According to Yahoo! Sports, the talks are getting nowhere, though. Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the only deal the Suns' would have considered was one that involved Kevin Love, and they aren't interested in letting Bledsoe go for less than that.
Bledsoe is only 24, but he has had some injury issues. He averaged 17.7 points and 5.5 assists for the Suns last season, but missed half the season because of knee surgery.
