The Phoenix Suns have been attempting to trade All-Star guard Bradley Beal for months, exploring a myriad of ways to get him off the roster. While the veteran is still prominently featured in NBA trade rumors, it appears Phoenix will be stuck with him for the foreseeable future.
Fred Katz of The Athletic reported that Beal “would be open” to being traded if it’s a deal that sends him to the “right destination” this summer. However, the All-Star guard’s preference is to remain with Phoenix.
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Bradley Beal stats (ESPN): 17 PPG, 3.7 APG, 3.3 RPG, 1.1 SPG, 49.7% FG, 38.6% 3PT
When the Suns originally acquired Beal from the Washington Wizards, he agreed to waive his no-trade clause to make it happen. However, he’s proven to be a poor fit in Phoenix, and the club has been attempting to move him since January.
The Suns know they’ll have to attach assets to entice a team to take on Beal’s contract. Unfortunately for the club, the 32-year-old guard has already said he’ll use his no-trade clause to avoid being moved somewhere he doesn’t want to play. Beal and his family are very happy in Phoenix and playing for another team next season would mean either being away from his wife and kids or uprooting his family again.
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Bradley Beal contract (Spotrac): $53.67 million (2025-26), $52.1 million player option in ’26
There have been reports this offseason that Phoenix could waive Beal if he doesn’t agree to be traded to another club. Waiving and stretching Beal’s contract would mean spreading out the $110 million he’s owed over the next five years, instead of the next two seasons.
However, as Katz wrote, waiving and stretching Beal’s contract requires him to give back some money. It’s viewed as highly unlikely that he would be willing to do that. To make matters worse for Phoenix, the NBA CBA contains language that states teams can’t have stretched money on the books greater than 15 percent of the salary cap.
In Phoenix’s case, it previously waived and stretched Nassir Little and E.J. Liddell. Taking the same course of action with Beal would put them above the 15 percent threshold. The only way to get under that number is if Beal agrees to sacrifice receiving $13.8 million ($2.8 million per year) to be waived.
Beal has all the control in this situation and there’s no reason for him to give up a portion of his contract just so Phoenix can get him off the roster. Ultimately, the Suns might be stuck with him heading into next season and he’d also likely exercise his $52.1 million player option next summer.
NFL, MLB & college football writer for Sportsnaut. Graduated from San Diego State University with BA in Journalism, 2019. ... More about Matt Johnson