The Phoenix Suns are reportedly considering the option of buying out the contract of veteran shooting guard Bradley Beal, as noted by Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic. Beal’s contract, which has two years remaining, is valued at approximately $110 million.
This development comes on the heels of the Suns’ recent trade of Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets, a move executed on June 22. In that transaction, the Suns acquired Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and five second-round picks, in addition to the No. 10 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, which was utilized to select former Duke center Khaman Maluach.
However, finding a new team for Beal could prove challenging, given that he possesses a no-trade clause in his substantial five-year contract worth $251 million, signed during his tenure with the Washington Wizards in 2022. The 32-year-old player also has a player option worth $57.1 million for the 2026-27 season.
While reports indicate that Beal is open to a potential trade, he has expressed a preference to remain with the Suns. Should they choose to buy out his contract, Beal would become an unrestricted free agent. An alternative option for the Suns could involve stretching Beal’s salary over five years, providing some short-term cap relief.
Despite high expectations when joining the Suns, Beal has struggled to replicate his previous scoring prowess, averaging just 17.6 points per game in his two seasons with the team, compared to 27.6 points per game in his last four years with Washington.
This situation illustrates the complexities teams face when they attempt to balance talent acquisition and salary management in the league. There remains hope that with the right adjustments, Beal might find renewed success, whether with the Suns or elsewhere, as he looks to navigate the final years of his high-value contract.