What does Minnesota Timberwolves max offer to Eric Bledsoe mean for Ricky Rubio?

By Josh Hill | Sep 19, 2014

Apr 11, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio (9) signals a three at the end of the half against the Houston Rockets at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /

The Minnesota Timberwolves made waves this offseason when the traded Kevin Love to the Cleveland Cavaliers but they surprised everyone on Friday afternoon when they offered Phoenix Suns restricted free agent Eric Bledsoe a max offer sheet. The four-year, $63 million max offer that the Wolves surprisingly extended to Bledsoe will likely result in his coming to Minnesota but what does that mean for Ricky Rubio?

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Rubio’s camp cannot be pleased that they weren’t offered a max deal and that Minnesota was holding out on doing so only to offer someone who doesn’t even play for them that kind of deal. One thing Rubio’s camp has been adamant about is that max contract, but Bledsoe has now gotten it instead and he’s not going to reject it.

Just like Rubio, Bledsoe has been holding out on signing an offer from the Suns so he can get a max deal — like one just offered to him — and the wait was worth it. There is still a way that Bledsoe ends up in Phoenix but that would require the Suns to match the Wolves offer. That’s not something that Phoenix is excited to do, which means Bledsoe is more than likely heading to Minnesota.

As for the future of Rubio in Minnesota, having Bledsoe there makes him a better player but a bitter one. If Rubio wasn’t going to lower his demands before he’s certainty not going to now. A sign-and-trade for Bledsoe that involves Rubio going to Phoenix is the most likely resolution here, as Minnesota doesn’t want a disgruntled Rubio playing in Minnesota all year and Rubio won’t be getting a max offer from the Wolves this summer.

Of course, this could all play out in a way that sees Rubio and Bledsoe hit off together and form a deadly tandem together — which would be ideal. But there are hurt feelings already between Rubio and the Wolves over a max offer not coming down the pike and those hurt feelings aren’t going anywhere now.

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