After
Lebron
Kevin Love/ Unlikely if Cleveland trades for him along with LaMarcus ALdridge resigning to a 5year max deal to stay in Portland
I think Bledsoe is the best player to target at a near max deal, a player I feel would be better than Marc Gasol/Rhondo at a max deal, because Bledsoe's MAX is lower and he is a LOCKDOWN DEFENDER that could potentially play/defend 2 spots in PG/SG, which would fit in with Calderon and any of our SG's
Again, he possesses the youth/potential and the rare combination of
Athleticism/speed/quickness/ability to penetrate and finish with contact with his strength
Under the mentorship of the best PG in the league for a couple of years under CP3 certainly helps his ability to LEADER and facilitate
With the cap likely rising in 2015, if he signs a one year deal and becomes a UFA with The Sun's this off season, I think he would fit in with our team, especially with Calderon/Melo
Most importantly, it leaves us some more wiggle room to improve, depending on what happens with JR Smith/Iman Shumpert/Pablo, in addition to the couple million left in cap space and the LLE which is right under 3m
Assets
===========
We also can trade our draft rights to our 2015th 1st round pick and our 2018 1st round pick, along with 2018+ 2nd rounders
If needed in addition to the trade exemption gained from the Tyson Chandler deal within one year *which could potentially put us over the cap, so we would have the full 4 year 5MLE, which would be closer to 6M BY NEXT SUMMER, to offer a FA, In addition to the couple million left over from offering a contract to Bledsoe
also with our SG position with JR Smith/ Iman Shumpert/ Tim Hardaway JR who could all raise their value's if they play well in a SYSTEM basketball
We also have the draft rights to Thanissis, Cleanthony Early, Early Bird rights to both Jeremy Tyler/Cole Aldrich, and we even have the early bird rights to Kmart RIGHT NOW to offer him a contract that could be a 2-3 year deal, with the 2nd/3rd year's being NON GUARANTEED as trade bait to add up for salaries
I think we should look to get a versatile SF/PF to compliment Anthony like a Jeff Green and Thad Young *both have player options* Wilson Chandler *team option*, though I would prefer Battum for his ability to spread the floor and be a lockdown defender that is a also a great help defender
I believe Monta Ellis has a player option as well and Rudy Gay can also be a UFA, 2 players that I would like if at the right price
Though ELlis is getting a bit older, I would much prefer Bledsoe over him, I think Rudy Gay could play SG/SF/PF and could be a very versatile talented player and could be a very good defender if he was mentored and gave the effort to play
Ellis signed a deal in the range of 7-8m, and I would like Gay at a price from 5-8m *which we could have left if we got rid of some of our 2015 contracts listed above*