It's been an eventful offseason for the Phoenix Suns to this point. They've made changes at the head coaching position as well as the general manager position, bringing in new personnel in owner Mat Ishbia's pursuit of a better season than the one he just endured, watching his team go 36-46 after being swept out of the NBA Playoffs the previous year.
In the front office, he installed Brian Gregory. Gregory and Ishbia have a close relationship after Ishbia was a player at Michigan State and Gregory an assistant coach on the 2000 National Championship team.
Bradley Beal, Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels against Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal.
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Suns could make major call on star guard following Damian Lillard decision
Coming into the offseason, many speculated that the Suns would look to trade Kevin Durant in an attempt to recoup some assets they've sent out the door in previous years, building their present team. That's just what happened when Gregory traded Durant to the Houston Rockets for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 overall pick in last week's draft, and five second-round picks.
Another move the Suns would like to make, but is far less simple, is moving Bradley Beal. His contract is one of the worst in the league, with a salary of $53.66 million next season and a player option for $57.12 million the following season, along with a no-trade clause.
On Tuesday, the Milwaukee Bucks made the shocking choice to waive star guard Damian Lillard and are choosing to pay off the $113 million he's still owed over the next five seasons, rather than the next two that was part of the original deal.
As a result, some believe the Suns should consider doing the same thing with Beal.
The parameters of what such a move would look like would remain to be seen. Even if the Suns decided to waive Beal, it would be up to them how long they would want to draw the move out.
As it sits, they'll hold basketball's arguable worst contract for the next two years, but at least they'd be done with it. If they chose to stretch it out, the move that proved to be daunting would linger even longer.