The Phoenix Suns can’t dump Bradley Beal, so they are delusional in their hope that trading Kevin Durant gives Beal a chance to increase his production to match his contract, per Jake Fischer. Beal is set to make $53.6 million next season and is projected to be the tenth-highest-paid player in the NBA. There is no way he can produce like a star after the last six years.
Beal has played 60 or more games in a season once since 2019. He averages just 52.2 contests per year. The 6’4 guard will be 32 years old next season. The injuries and regression are not going away suddenly. Beal’s best days are behind him. He just can’t put up superstar numbers anymore.
The Suns have tried to trade him, but Beal has a no-trade clause. Fischer reported the Hawks and Wizards were interested before the trade deadline, but Beal refused. Phoenix is stuck with him for two more years. It is an unfortunate reality the Suns must accept. Assuming his play improves should not be part of the equation.
Bradley Beal is declining and can’t be counted on
The Suns hoped to convince a team to take on his contract, but the bigger problem is sending Beal where he wants to go. He has over $110 million remaining on his deal. He has no reason to opt-out or accept a buyout. Beal wants to be in Phoenix and plans on getting paid handsomely to stay.
His contract is a sunk cost for the Suns. They should make him their sixth man and hope Beal can punish second units. He averaged 17.0 points, 3.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in 32.1 minutes per game last season. Beal shot 49.7 percent from the field and 38.6 percent on his 3-point attempts. Those are strong numbers, but he was a problem on both ends of the floor.
The Suns had a negative 7.7 net rating in Beal’s minutes and were a plus-1.0 with him on the bench. Phoenix has to trade KD to get under the second apron and reconfigure their cap sheet, but they have no plans on tanking. To win more games with Devin Booker as their number one option, the Suns must limit Beal’s minutes and allow him to feast on second units with defenders around him.
To assume Beal produces to the level of his contract is like buying a lottery ticket thinking you are about to win millions of dollars. There is a chance, but it is extremely slim. Beal needs to improve his defense and desire for the Suns to have any shot at making the playoffs. If not, he should be stuck in a sixth-man role where he plays 20-25 minutes every night.
The Phoenix Suns are not dumping Bradley Beal’s contract, so they must treat it like a sunk cost. If Beal is not playing defense and hurting their chances of winning, new head coach Jordan Ott should bench him. Do not expect superstar production. Take what you can get and try to win games with the pieces you have. It is your only chance of returning to the playoffs in the crowded West.
The Suns are delusion if they truly believe Beal bounces back. The 32-year-old is no longer a star. Mat Ishbia made a grave mistake in trading for him. There is no fix now, so accept the loss and move forward in the best way possible. That is the only viable option.