Report: Suns to re-sign Knight to 5-year, $70M deal; could explore Bledsoe trade
Go big or go home. This summer, the Phoenix Suns are going big.
The club plans to sign restricted free agent guard Brandon Knight, 23, to a five-year, $70-million deal, according to Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times.
There's more: The Suns plan to chase superstar power forwards Kevin Love and LaMarcus Aldridge, reports Paul Coro of The Arizona Republic.
It's certainly an ambitious plan for the humble Suns and it will take some careful cap management for it to be actualized.
Even if they renounce the rights to every free agent aside from Knight, the Suns will still only have $12 million in cap room to woo surefire maximum players in Love and Aldridge. That would necessitate another move, which might spell the end of the Morris twins era in Phoenix.
Knight, himself, should command a contract worth eight figures per season. He's a restricted free agent and the Suns can match any offer sheet he signs.
Still, Phoenix should be an appealing destination. The Suns have promising pieces, and general manager Ryan McDonough will pitch Love and Aldridge on a core built around Eric Bledsoe, Knight and Alex Len. Stir in an additional superstar and there is the makings of a talented starting five. The Suns also have an accomplished training staff famous for protecting and maximizing the health of their players.
As discussed on tonight's NBA Insiders on @ESPNRadio, there's a growing feeling around the league that Phoenix will seriously explore (1/2)
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) June 29, 2015
That Suns will seriously explore their Eric Bledsoe trade options if they indeed strikes the deal w/B-Knight that @GeryWoelfel is reporting
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) June 29, 2015
However, landing Love or Aldridge will be difficult.
Love is likely to return to Cleveland, as the 26-year-old has repeatedly stated his interest in re-signing. That interest is reportedly mutual, as the Cavaliers plan to offer him a 5-year, $110-million deal.
Aldridge, meanwhile, is one of the hottest free agents on the market. He will field offers from the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers, Dallas Mavericks and the San Antonio Spurs, who are believed to be the favorites to land the 29-year-old forward.
Should the Suns fail to land Love or Aldridge, Phoenix will quickly pivot towards landing a 3-and-D wing, reports Coro. Two names that fit the bill are DeMarre Carroll and Danny Green.