Inside the Suns’ $251 million mistake: the Bradley Beal problem

The Phoenix Suns are headed for a total overhaul this offseason, and Bradley Beal’s massive contract is at the center of the storm.

Devin Booker and Kevin Durant headline Suns’ summer

The franchise is ready to blow things up after two disappointing seasons, and right now, the only player guaranteed to stay is Devin Booker. New head coach Jordan Ott - formerly an assistant with the Hawks, Nets, Lakers, and Cavs - is expected to build around Booker, who’s reportedly in line for a staggering two-year, $150 million extension. That eye-popping figure shows just how inflated today’s market is.

But everything else is up in the air.

After sliding out of contention entirely in the Western Conference, Phoenix has hit the reset button. James Jones has been moved aside in the front office, with Brian Gregory now tasked with reshaping a roster that hasn’t lived up to its billing. And at the heart of the chaos is Kevin Durant, who’s already agreed in principle with the team to part ways this summer.

Suns owner Ishbia to step up involvement

Owner Mat Ishbia, who took over the franchise in 2023, is reportedly ramping up his involvement after a hands-off approach didn’t yield results.

According to local reporter Gerald Bourguet, Ishbia admitted in a recent internal email that following the “standard NBA owner playbook” - hire smart people, write the checks, and stay out of the way - hasn’t worked. The Suns fell from a Finals appearance just a few years ago to not even cracking the top ten in the West. Ishbia now wants to be deeply involved in basketball operations, even if he insists he’s not drawing up plays or watching game film.

The goal was to wash away the stains of the Robert Sarver era, but so far, Ishbia’s version of a new culture hasn’t delivered.

Phoenix’s huge Bradley Beal problem

While Durant’s expected departure will dominate headlines, the real thorn in the Suns’ side is Bradley Beal - and more specifically, his contract.

Beal still holds one of the most unmovable deals in the league: a five-year, $251 million extension he signed with the Wizards in 2022. He’s owed $53.6 million next season, with a $57.1 million player option the year after. But what really handcuffs the Suns is Beal’s full no-trade clause - currently the only one in the NBA. He can veto any deal.

And according to Suns insider John Gambadoro, Phoenix has no interest in bringing him back.

Beal arrived in the desert last summer with hopes of forming a Big Three with Booker and Durant. But things never clicked. This past season, Beal averaged just 17 points per game and came off the bench 15 times. Injuries, inconsistency, and a redundant skill set next to Booker quickly made him look like a bad fit - and now, an expensive liability.

Beal prompts Suns cap disaster

Phoenix currently holds the largest payroll in the NBA at $214 million - more than both the Timberwolves and Celtics. They’ve blown past both the first ($178.1m) and second ($188.9m) luxury tax aprons, which slams the door on almost all free-agent flexibility. They’re limited to just one exception (MLE), and that doesn’t go far in today’s market.

Beal’s deal is a major reason why the Suns are stuck. Shedding it would offer some much-needed relief, but it won’t be easy to find a team willing to absorb that kind of financial burden, especially when Beal has the power to shut down any trade that doesn’t suit him.

Bradley Beal: from rising star to financial burden

Now 31, Beal is still in his physical prime, but his rise has clearly plateaued. Drafted third overall by the Wizards out of Florida (who just won the NCAA title this year), Beal built his reputation alongside John Wall, forming one of the league’s most explosive backcourts in the mid-2010s. Their peak came in 2017 with a division title and a seven-game dogfight against the Celtics in the conference semis.

But the Wizards never quite broke through. After years of underachievement, Beal became the last man standing, racking up All-Star appearances and All-NBA honors, especially during the 2020/21 season, when he averaged a career-best 31.3 points per game during the pandemic-shortened year.

That stretch helped justify the monster extension, but those days feel far away now. The Suns hoped he could be the final piece in a title run. Instead, he’s become one of the league’s worst-value contracts - and the team is paying dearly for it.

Phoenix needs a fresh start. That means building around Booker, getting something meaningful for Durant, and - if they can pull it off - finding a way out from under Beal’s brutal deal. Easier said than done.

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