Suns Make A Late Push For Kevin Love

With just hours to go before the planned mega deal that would sendKevin Loveto Cleveland, thePhoenix Sunsreached out to theMinnesota Timberwolveson Thursday to ask once more about the possibility of acquiring Love in a sign-and-trade for guardEric Bledsoe, sources told ESPN.com.

The Cavaliers and Love have had plans in place for weeks now, and the trade has morphed into a three-way deal with thePhiladelphia 76ersthat will sendThaddeus Youngto Minnesota, is expected to be completed on Saturday.

As you know, the Suns and Eric Bledsoe have been on an roller coaster for months trying to satisfy the restricted free agent. And the team is now vetting all options. That includes other sign-and-trade talks with other teams besides the Wolves.

Eric Bledsoe has made it clear he is seeking a five-year, $85 million maximum contract from the Suns. He would only consider a max deal in a sign-and-trade, which would be four years and $64 million, with any other team, sources said.

If Bledsoe does not get a max deal this summer, he intends to sign the Suns’ one-year qualifying offer for $3.7 million and become an unrestricted free agent next year.

The Phoenix Suns have offered Bledsoe a four-year, $48 million deal that is similar to the contract point guardKyle Lowrysigned with theToronto Raptorsthis summer. Bledsoe rejected that offer and both sides haven’t made any progress in talks for weeks.

Eric Bledsoe is definitely not going to make this (any) deal an easy one.

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