Kentucky Wildcats Morning Headlines: T-Wolves offer Bledsoe a max deal.
Eric Bledsoe and Ricky Rubio are two very good point guards in the NBA, that feel like they simply aren’t getting paid enough. Bledsoe is currently a restricted free agent, and wants a maximum dollar contract. Whether it’s with his current team, the Phoenix Suns, or any team that would make a deal that Phoenix wouldn’t bother matching. The former Kentucky star just wants his pay-day, just like the rest of us.
Ricky Rubio wants the same thing, basically. The Handy Spaniard wants a max contract extension from the Minnesota Timberwolves. You would think with Kevin Love gone to Cleveland, that Minnesota would be much obliged to locking Rubio in long-term. That, for complicated reasons, just isn’t the case right now.
Just as you thought it was already complicated enough, the Timberwolves front office went and made things even more oxymoron. Minnesota reportedly offered Bledsoe a maximum 4-year $63 million contract. Sure, it sounds like a cool idea, but with all the young players that were acquired in the Love trade, the Wolves are plenty over the cap.
The only thing that would make sense, in order for a deal like that to actually happen, is a sign-and-trade with the Suns. Some speculation even suggested that a straight swap should take place, Bledsoe for Rubio. That would be very unlikely, considering that Phoenix still have Goran Dragic and Isaiah Thomas. One thing is for sure about Bledsoe, other teams are starting to chip in their bids for the combo guard.
Rex Chapman arrested:
Former Kentucky star and NBA player Rex Chapman has been taken into custody after accused of shoplifting over $14,000 worth of Apple products and selling them at a local pawn shop. He is currently in suspicion of nine counts of organized retail theft and five counts of trafficking stolen items.
Chapman, now 46 years old, was taken into custody by Scottsdale police on Friday. Chapman was said to have pretended to use the store’s self checkout machine, don’t ask me why an Apple store has a self checkout, but did not pay and walked out with the items. Police confirmed that he had already shoplifted from the store seven times before to sell the items for cash.
Chapman is currently in the UK Athletics Hall of Fame, when he led Kentucky in scoring in his two seasons back in the late 80’s. He spent 12 years in the NBA before retiring in 2000. Another case of former NBA players going bankrupt after retirement, desperate for money.
Sep 13, 2014; Gainesville, FL, USA; Kentucky Wildcats running back Stanley Williams (18) runs the ball in for a touchdown during the first overtime against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Florida Gators defeated the Kentucky Wildcats 36-30. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
‘Cats emphasize staying sharp during bye week:
Kentucky Wildcats football (2-1, 0-1 Southeastern Conference) have a bye this week, before welcoming Vanderbilt to Commonwealth Stadium on Sept. 27. The guys for sure want to build on what really worked in the triple-overtime loss at Florida with a vow to finishing things against the Commodores, and ending the wretched 17-game conference losing streak dating back to the 2011 season.
Even after a very tough loss, the UK players continue to keep their composure and keep their minds focused at the task at hand. Stoops loves to see how excited and emotional the practices have been this week; to see the players not hang their heads on the loss.
Sophomore quarterback Patrick Towles said that it’s not a bad time for the team to take off, adding that it gives the team a chance to catch a breather before settling into a routine for the remainder of the season.
Besides correcting mistakes, the bye gives the UK players time to heal. Stoops said the team has a chance to face Vanderbilt ”close to 100 percent” health-wise with wide receiver Javess Blue likely to return since injuring his ankle in the season opener against Tennessee-Martin.