NBA Rumors: Lakers to pursue Eric Bledsoe, Goran Dragic in 2015
While many task themselves with predicting what’s next to happen in the Eric Bledsoe-Phoenix Suns saga, there’s an item that has been looked over a bit: with Bledsoe and the Suns failing to agree on terms, forcing Bledsoe to likely accept a qualifying offer for the 2014-15 season, the franchise could put themselves in a dangerous position next summer as both Bledsoe and Goran Dragic would be unrestricted free agents, free to sign wherever they please.
And according to Marc Stein of ESPN, there’s one team who, predictably, has their eyes on the duo: the Los Angeles Lakers.
"If Bledsoe elects to go the rare qualifying offer route, Phoenix would suddenly face the very real possibility of losing both of its two best assets without compensation in 2015 free agency.The Lakers, for example, are just one team league sources say would likely make a hard run at both of them, based on the premise that the Suns couldn’t afford the cost of paying both at that point, theoretically making either Bledsoe or Dragic gettable. Sources say that Houston, furthermore, has Dragic on its list of potential targets next summer given how he’s blossomed since leaving the Rockets for Phoenix in the free-agent summer of 2012."
With a combined $30 million set to come off the books (Nash, Lin, Hill, Boozer), the Lakers will have ample space to pursue any star in the league, offering a max salary as prize to join the franchise. With Bledsoe already demanding the max, this could be the perfect opportunity to collect what he wants–the same applying to Goran Dragic if he chooses to demand a similar salary.
It’s going to be interesting. While the Suns are a franchise surely on the come up, it’s hard to fight off a team like the Lakers, or any other team who’ll pursue the two point guards.
Hopefully the Suns have a backup plan because their future could look bleak if things don’t play in their favor a year from now.