The Phoenix Suns are ready to move on from Bradley Beal, just one season after acquiring the three-time All-Star guard. Beal, who’s in the middle of a massive five-year, $251.01 million contract, might not have a say in the matter.
The Suns tried shopping Beal before last February’s trade deadline, but hit a major roadblock. Beal wasn’t willing to waive his no-trade clause, effectively blocking any potential deal.
That’s the thing about no-trade clauses – the player has to approve any move. Beal did exactly that when he left Washington for Phoenix last June.
Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro dropped a bombshell Thursday about just how desperate the Suns are to part ways with Beal.
“They do NOT want him back,” Gambadoro posted on X. “But he is untradable and if he does not agree to a buyout they may be stuck with him. One of the questions they asked candidates during the coaching cycle was what you would do with Beal. They 100% don’t want him and are looking at how to get out.”
The buyout option isn’t simple either. Beal is still owed a staggering $110 million on his contract, and any buyout would need to be for less than that amount.
Finding a trade partner is complicated by two major factors: finding a team willing to take on Beal’s massive salary, and finding one that Beal would actually agree to join.
Back in January, Gambadoro reported that Beal would only consider waiving his no-trade clause for three teams: the Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers, and Miami Heat.
It’s worth noting that LeBron James is the only other NBA player with a no-trade clause in his contract.
Money Problems Mounting
The Suns’ financial situation is getting pretty dire.
Their “Big Three” of Beal, Kevin Durant, and Devin Booker are set to earn a combined $162 million next season alone. That’s a whopping 73% of the team’s entire payroll.
Phoenix will be a luxury tax team for the fourth straight year and is projected to be about $25 million over the second apron.
Durant adds another layer of complexity to the situation. ESPN’s Bobby Marks notes that KD is entering the final year of his contract and becomes eligible for a two-year, $124 million extension right after the NBA Finals end.
While Durant could potentially be traded, Beal’s contract situation makes reshaping the roster incredibly difficult.
The Suns’ expensive experiment has been a disaster so far. They finished last season 10 games under .500 and missed the playoffs for the first time in five years.
Since Mat Ishbia took over as owner in 2023, he’s spent an eye-popping $860 million for a team that has won just two playoff games.
