If the latest rumors are to be believed, it would seem that Phoenix Suns fans have their answer when it comes to whether Bradley Beal will be on this team next year. According to Chris Mannix, who recently had a conversation with Kevin O'Connor, candidates for the Suns' head coaching job were informed that Beal will be staying in Phoenix because the team has no other option.
If true, this serves to confirm what's been the suspicion of fans for months now: That That Beal isn't going anywhere. And that's not because the front office has a great desire to keep him, but simply because they don't have any realistic options for moving him. It's not a matter of loyalty, it's all about salaries and financial logistics.
As we know, one of the biggest roadblocks to moving Beal is his no-trade clause, the one that every Suns fan probably groans about when it's mentioned. Beal is still set to earn over $110 million over the course of the next two seasons, and the market for his services is extremely limited. The only way to make a move happen would be if Phoenix was willing to attach assets or absorb potentially even worse contracts in return.
Suns' coaching candidates were told Beal would be in PHX
The Suns had the league's highest payroll in the 2024-25 season, and they can't afford to be spending even more. They're already facing the consequences of the second tax apron, and have little flexibility as is.
Another interesting note here is that Mannix also made note of the fact that the Suns' head coaching candidates were told that Devin Booker would be in town for next season, but Kevin Durant would likely not be. Again, this confirms what we already assumed to be the case for Phoenix in 2025-26.
So, if Booker and Beal indeed remain as the Suns' top two options, that's not exactly the best place to be in if you're trying to compete in the Western Conference. It's going to be hard to expect this roster to compete for a playoff spot without some additional changes, given that they missed the postseason entirely even with Durant rostered last season.
The pain and frustration from the Phoenix Suns' fanbase is real and it's palpable. This team's title contention window seemed to shut extremely fast, and it's not looking to open again anytime soon. But what the Suns have to do is approach their situation with honesty, and make the necessary changes, however they can, to transform this roster back into a winning one.