Few teams will have as much riding on the offseason as the Phoenix Suns. They will likely trade Kevin Durant with whatever trade they make, setting the tone for their offseason and future.
However, equally as important is what they do with former all-star Bradley Beal. Beal has become the bane of existence for Suns fans who have been wildly disappointed with Beal since they traded an arm and a leg for him two summers ago.
That has many Suns fans hoping that he too won't be back next season, even though that currently seems like a pipe dream. But according to a new report, the Suns may have found a way to cut ties with Beal this summer.
NBA Rumors: The Phoenix Suns will cut ties with Bradley Beal
Suns insider John Gambadoro has made it clear that Phoenix, under no circumstances, would bring Beal back next season. That is an emphatic statement that leaves little room for interpretation, though there is one potential sticking point.
0 Percent Chance! https://t.co/z0RkJy1FyT
— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) April 10, 2025
Beal has a no-trade clause, which means that if he doesn't want to be traded, then he can't be traded. That would shut down any trade options, but they do have one other option: stretching and waiving Beal. That would be a bold move considering that he has $110.6 million remaining on his contract over the next two seasons.
That would mean that the Suns could stretch out that balance over double the length of his deal plus a season, totaling five years. The Suns would have to eat $22.12 million until the 2029-30 season in that scenario.
No matter how desperate the Suns are, that probably isn't their first option. They may instead wait and see how much Durant fetches and then take some of those assets from that deal to try and entice a team to take his contract.
If they can't, however, then they may be willing to eat that contract. It would be a big setback, but if the Suns are retooling or rebuilding, then it may matter much less. Therefore, Gambadoro could be proven right yet again this summer.