The situation in Phoenix is getting more complicated by the day as they attempt to build a contender around Devin Booker. In the aftermath of the Kevin Durant trade, the Suns are struggling to improve, but a buyout for Bradley Beal is in the works that could open up a world of possibilities for the organization.
“The Phoenix Suns have been discussing a possible buyout for guard Bradley Beal, league sources have informed The Arizona Republic,” wrote Duane Rankin.
Beal, 32, joined the Suns in 2023 after a blockbuster trade from the Wizards. As one of the few players with a no-trade clause, he had approved his move to Phoenix and only did so knowing that he’d be joining Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.
In his two seasons with the Suns so far, Beal’s tenure has been a complete disaster. Besides the team finishing near the bottom of the standings, chemistry on the court and in the locker room was nonexistent. Worse still is that Beal made $50+ million last season while averaging 17.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game.
Between his poor health and underachieving performance, Bradley Beal has been more of a liability for the Suns than anything else, especially since the size of his contract limits what they can do to improve their team.
In response, the Suns have tried desperately to trade Beal, hoping that at least one other team might be willing to take on his contract. So far, however, rival GMs have been too smart to make a big offer on Beal, and potential trade partners have yet to surface.
Without Durant, the Suns know that they need to part with Beal (especially to save money), but their only option now is a buyout. Just like the Bucks did with Damian Lillard, Phoenix could stretch and waive Beal’s deal over five years. While it would count against the team’s salary, they could use the added flexibility to make additional roster tweaks and get out from under the second apron.
In the case of Beal, he’d be free to pursue his own interests on a different team. From his time with the Wizards and Suns, he’s never been in a competitive environment, and this would be his best chance to join one. Despite his struggles to stay healthy and consistent with his play, Beal could still make for an interesting roster addition at the right price.
With skills as a shooter, scorer, and ball-handler, Beal provides an instant boost on offense, and his scoring can make life easier for teammates. Given his situation, only a few teams stand out as ideal landing spots, such as the Los Angeles Clippers, who are reportedly the front-runners to sign him if he leaves the Suns.
With so many variables at play, it’s impossible to tell how this situation will play out, but it’s probably in the best interest of all parties if Beal moves on from the Suns forever. His tenure there will not be remembered kindly, but there’s still a chance for him to find greater success if he joins the right situation this summer.
