It's not that the Phoenix Suns didn't want Jimmy Butler; the assumption was that he'd end up in the desert alongside Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. Bradley Beal was going to be on his way out, but a deal ended up being much easier said than done.
The Suns acquired Beal in 2023 after he did what they wanted him to do pre-deadline -- waive his no-trade clause. He wanted to be in Phoenix two years ago, and didn't want to leave in February. Shams Charania of ESPN reported last week that the Suns "will have discussions on the future of Beal" this summer.
Beal is owed over $110 million in the next two seasons. Phoenix is a second-tax apron team, making it virtually impossible to improve the roster. Moving on from Beal's contract would be massive for the Suns, but it won't be easy. It is already challenging to trade him due to his no-trade clause, and even if he didn't have one, it would still be tough to find an opposing team willing to take on his contract.
So, what is there to do with Beal? That's the million dollar question (well, technically, more than that).
Suns will have to decide what to do with Bradley Beal this summer
No, waiving Beal isn't an option. Phoenix would be far better off keeping him on the roster and trying to find a trade, rather than paying him for not playing the next two seasons. Yes, two seasons, because there isn't a world where Beal would agree not to exercise his $57.1 million player option for 2026-27 before being waived.
Fans have wondered if a waive-and-stretch would be the best option for Beal. The Suns could waive him and stretch his salary out for five seasons, meaning they'd pay $22.2 million per year through 2029-30. However, because of the CBA, a team's stretched salary cannot exceed 15% of the salary cap from the year the player was waived.
Phoenix already has stretched salary on the books for 2025-26: $3.8 million between Nassir Little ($3.1 million) and E.J. Liddell ($706,898). Adding Beal to that number would mean the Suns would have a little less than $26 million in stretched salary next season, which is more than 15%. So, no, a waive-and-stretch isn't possible.
Maybe Phoenix will entice a team to take on Beal's remaining salary. Of course, Beal would have to be on board with the decision, too, with his no-trade clause. Nobody thought the Mavericks would trade Luka Doncic, especially to the Lakers. Crazier things have happened.
It's too bad that going back in time to 2023 and not bailing the Wizards out by trading for Beal isn't an option.