The Phoenix Suns need to get rid of Bradley Beal, and the Bucks' latest move might've put an idea at the forefront of the minds of fans. ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported that Myles Turner agreed to a four-year, $107 million deal. To help facilitate this, Milwaukee waived Damian Lillard and stretched the remaining $113 million on his deal across five years.
The Bucks will pay Lillard $22 million per year, which will count against the team's cap space. It was a bold move, but one that Milwaukee felt was necessary, given Giannis Antetokounmpo's future with the organization was uncertain. He's been closely watching the team's moves this summer, and after losing Brook Lopez, the Bucks pulled a wild card. However, NBA insider Chris Haynes reported that Giannis isn't happy with the team's decision to waive Lillard, which throws another wrench into their situation.
This isn't the space to wonder what Giannis will do, but instead, to think about what could happen with Beal. Phoenix mistakenly traded for him in the 2023 offseason, a move that continues to worsen. The Suns tried to trade him before the 2025 deadline, but he used his no-trade clause to his advantage. He could be traded this summer, but again, his no-trade clause could present an issue, and that's if Phoenix finds a team willing to take on the remaining two years on his contract (including his player option for 2026-27).
Bucks waive and stretch rest of Damian Lillard's contract
Milwaukee is in a different position than Phoenix, but there are similarities between the two teams. The Bucks want to keep Giannis happy, as do the Suns with Booker. Milwaukee aims to win another title with Giannis, and Phoenix seeks to win its first with Booker, a task that is far more challenging for the Suns, given the current state of the Western Conference.
Phoenix entered the offseason limited in its ability to upgrade the roster and addressed its need for a center by acquiring Mark Williams and drafting Khaman Maluach. The Suns need more, though. Desperate times call for desperate measures (ask the Bucks), so fans might call for Phoenix to seriously consider waiving and stretching the remaining $110.8 million on Beal's deal. The issue is that the Suns can't do so, literally.
The collective bargaining agreement says that a team can't spend more than 15% of the salary cap in any given season on stretched salaries. The Suns previously waived and stretched Nassir Little (who is on the books through 2030-31) and E.J. Liddell (who is on the books through 2026-27), and their stretched salaries prevent Phoenix from doing the same with Beal.
So, the Suns' best hope is to wish for a Beal trade to happen, which doesn't instill any hope at all.