The Phoenix Suns have made some seriously flashy moves this offseason, the main one being creating a Big 3 of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal.
The team has kept Deandre Ayton despite trade talks and made some valuable additions in free agency, including Eric Gordon. They made a more low-key move on Sunday, shipping out Cam Payne and some picks for four second-round picks in separate deals and signing Bol Bol. But it’s helped them in one big way.
As explained by NBA insider Bobby Marks, the Suns were due to pay $79.5 million in luxury tax penalties before these moves. But after moving on from Payne and adding Bol Bol, they will only pay $53.1 million, meaning that they saved $26.4 million, a not insignificant amount.
$26.4M in tax savings after the Payne trade and Bol signing.
Pre Trade
$79.5M penalty
Post Trade
$53.1M penalty https://t.co/BVrOL1yDkQ
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) July 16, 2023
Cam Payne was owed $6.5 million in 2023-24, which amounts to nearly three times as much when it comes to luxury tax penalties. Bol Bol’s one-year contract is likely worth over $1 million or so, meaning it is a big help to the Suns’ cap sheet.
The Suns have $172 million tied up in just four players for next season, that’s how much Bradley Beal, Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Deandre Ayton will earn combined in 2023-24. That number will only go higher moving forward too, meaning the Suns will have to keep working some miracles to build competent rosters around their stars.
The Suns Saved Money But Now Lack A True Point Guard
Cameron Payne was a true point guard for the Phoenix Suns, and he stepped in during times when the team didn’t have Chris Paul. He was also a high-energy guy, and so despite saving $26.4 million, the Suns’ team isn’t under the cap and will instead have to play without a true point guard. The plan seems to be that Bradley Beal will play there, but that is going to be an experiment that has a chance of failing.
For the Phoenix Suns moving forward, their stars will have to do all the heavy lifting. They have interesting and impactful players like Eric Gordon, Keita Bates-Diop, and Yuta Watanabe on the lineup, but new coach Frank Vogel is going to have to work some wonders. If it works though, a championship will shut up anyone that doubts this team and their new ownership.
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