A buyout between the Phoenix Suns and Bradley Beal is expected to happen, as NBA insider Marc Stein reported that the 32-year-old is exploring his options (subscription required) when he hits free agency. Phoenix could buy Beal out of the remaining $110.8 million on his contract, waiving and stretching it across five years. Would that be the best idea? No. Would it help the Suns in the short term? Yes.
Moving on from Beal would put Phoenix below the dreaded second tax apron and the luxury tax, two wins. However, it would mean paying Beal $19.4 million through the 2029-30 season, which isn't ideal. If the Suns don't buy him out, Beal will make $53.7 million next season and $57.1 million in 2026-27, which is a player option, but there is no chance he won't pick it up.
Not getting something in return for Beal isn't ideal. Mat Ishbia unknowingly put the Suns in a terrible position by trading for the guard in 2023, a few months after he became the majority owner. Ishbia should've known better.
Although it'd be a relief for the Suns to no longer have Beal on the roster, his presence will still be felt every year when that $19.4 million goes into his pockets.
Waiving and stretching Beal's contract will be a short-term fix for Suns
Getting rid of Beal won't fix Phoenix's problems; instead, it will add future ones. Sure, it could mean that Chris Paul will return to the desert, especially if Beal signs with the Clippers, but that isn't going to be the move that sends the Suns back to the NBA Finals.
Ishbia's short-sightedness has dug Phoenix into a hole that has been challenging enough to begin to climb out of. Keep in mind that there is no guarantee that Beal will agree to a buyout, leading to a waive and stretch. He must first agree to accept $13.8 million less than the $110.8 million remaining on his contract, as stipulated by the collective bargaining agreement.
A buyout won't be a win for the Suns. It will be a temporary financial relief to a self-imposed problem and another desperate move directed by Ishbia. At least it would mean that he's (seemingly) learned from his mistakes.