The Phoenix Suns have been discussing a possible buyout for guard Bradley Beal, league sources have informed The Arizona Republic.
Beal has two years left on his contract totaling $110 million. A buyout would make Beal a free agent. Teams can officially begin signing players to contracts July 6.
The three-time All-Star guard is on a five-year deal for $251 million, which includes a no-trade clause, that he signed with the Washington Wizards.
He’d no longer have a no-trade clause with a buyout because the contract would be voided.
The Suns have a policy of declining to comment on the contracts of players. Suns general manager Brian Gregory passed on addressing a question about Kevin Durant’s future with the team during Jordan Ott’s introductory news conference as head coach last month.
Phoenix later traded Durant before the 2025 NBA Draft to the Houston Rockets in a blockbuster deal, acquiring Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the 10th overall pick in the 2025 draft, and five second-round selections.
The trade will become official July 6.
Phoenix has a salary cap hit of $3.8 million, consisting of Nassir Little’s $3.1 million and E.J. Liddell’s $706,898. The maximum amount that can count against the cap is $23.2 million.
The Suns could reduce Beal’s salary and stretch it over five years. Phoenix would have a cap hit per year as it looks to work its way under at least the second tax apron.
The Suns are a little more than $10 million over the second apron.
For example, the Suns could negotiate a buyout for Beal of, say, $90 million and stretch it over five years. Phoenix would have an $18 million cap hit per year.
The lesser the buyout, the more wiggle room the Suns would have with the dead cap space.
Beal would be able to go to any team. The team wouldn’t have to pay him the remaining $20 million in that scenario, but Beal wouldn’t want to lose any money on a buyout.
A player typically wants to have a team lined up to land to ensure that the team pays the remaining amount after being bought out.
Beal averaged 17.6 points on 50.5% shooting, 4.3 assists and 3.9 rebounds in his two seasons with the Suns. Shooting 40.7% from 3, Beal can still put up numbers, but he has struggled to stay healthy. Beal played only 53 games in each of the two seasons in Phoenix.
He hasn’t played at least 60 games since the 2020-21 season, which was a 72-game season amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Playing 60 games that season, Beal averaged a career-high 31.3 points, made his third All-Star appearance and received All-NBA third team honors.
The Suns landed Beal in a trade during the 2023 offseason that sent Chris Paul to the Wizards. Paul wound up starting the 2023-24 season with Golden State.
The trade created a Big 3 of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Beal, giving the Suns the belief they could win an NBA championship. Phoenix fell way short of those expectations.
Phoenix went 45-33 in games Booker, Durant and Beal played together, going 19-18 this past season.
