Phoenix Suns fans are waiting for the Bradley Beal news to break, but not the news that they necessarily want to hear. It won't be a trade (barring a miracle), but instead, a buyout that will consist of the organization waiving and stretching the rest of Beal's contract across five years. It will give the Suns short-term financial flexibility, but it'll come at a cost.
Buying Beal's contract out would be Mat Ishbia's way of admitting that he mistakenly traded for the guard in 2023. The fact that it was a mistake was made clear a long time ago, some would even say as soon as the trade happened.
A buyout being Phoenix's only real way to get Beal off the roster isn't ideal. Even if the Suns were to find a trade partner to take on the last two years of his contract, he could veto the deal because of his no-trade clause.
There's also a hurdle Phoenix will have to cross to reach a buyout with Beal due to the collective bargaining agreement, which would mean the guard forfeiting $13.9 million of the $110.8 million he's owed. That might not seem like a lot of money, at least not to Beal, who has made millions; however, he won't earn $13.9 million with his next team. Leaving Phoenix means losing money.
No matter how things shake out, the Suns aren't in an enviable position, regardless of what Ishbia said last summer. A buyout would be Phoenix accepting defeat.
Bradley Beal buyout won't magically fix all of the Suns' problems
Phoenix would pay Beal $19.4 million for the next five years if his contract is waived and stretched. It would put the Suns below the dreaded second tax apron and avoid the luxury tax, which are positives, but it will only become more of a headache down the road.
Having that much money on the books for Beal and Devin Booker (who signed a two-year extension) could put Phoenix in an even worse position than it is in now. Ishbia is clearly willing to spend money, but he doesn't think much about the long term. If the Suns were in a position to win a championship now, that wouldn't be a huge concern, but they're not.
If Phoenix and Beal don't agree to a buyout and he's still with the team next season, that wouldn't be a bad thing. The Suns could do a 180 and decide to wait until after the 2026-27 season to have Beal off the books for good, but that isn't how Ishbia rolls.
The belief remains that a buyout is forthcoming. In a sense, it will be a relief for fans to know that Beal isn't in Phoenix anymore, but rest assured, his presence will still be felt every year when the Suns give him nearly $20 million.