Bradley Beal is Damaged Goods
The Suns Are in a Tough Spot With The $251 Million Contract They Gave Beal
The Most Disappointing Big 3?
There were plenty of disappointing teams in the NBA this season but perhaps the most disappointing team was the Phoenix Suns. The team made huge NBA news by trading for Bradley Beal in the offseason. The trio of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Beal was supposed to take the NBA by storm.
They did decently in the regular season, they went 49-33 in NBA games and had a favorable matchup against a young Minnesota Timberwolves team. Despite having a major experience advantage, the Suns got swept and things are looking messy.
Bradley Beal before Game 4: I’ve never been swept a day in my life. I’d be damned if that happens
Bradley Beal today: I’ll be damned man pic.twitter.com/iJziOy8uxd
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) April 29, 2024
Phoenix has a $251 million problem with Beal. Bradley Beal’s stats were the worst they’ve been since 2015-16 and he’s often injured. There’s also no easy way to get rid of him, according to NBA rumors from Fox Sports’ Ric Bucher.
“Taking the swing to acquire him wasn’t without justification,” an Eastern Conference executive told Bucher. “But Beal is toxic debt now. You have to move on before Book and KD demand trades and you lose leverage in the marketplace.”
In simpler terms, the Suns are stuck with Beal and he has two more years and a player option left on his contract.
Reminder that the Suns have to pay Bradley Beal
$50 million
$54 million
$57 millionin the next 3 seasons. pic.twitter.com/xPPh9yhtwa
— StatMuse (@statmuse) April 29, 2024
What’s Next for Suns?
The Suns are in a very tough spot. They could try to run things back with the same roster and head coach Frank Vogel but it’s hard to see how that would work.
The team might need to consider trading away Kevin Durant in an effort to get younger. He’s getting older and his value will only decline in the coming years. Booker could also get traded but he’s much younger so they may want to build around him.
KD felt the Suns offense did not play to his strengths, and that he was “relegated to the corner” too much, per @ShamsCharania and @DougHaller pic.twitter.com/r1nKv6PxMA
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 29, 2024
Regardless, the Suns aren’t likely to be contenders anytime soon. They could still be in the NBA playoffs if they bring back the trio but it’s looking like it’s time to start over and wait out Beal’s contract. It was a solid run for Phoenix but the Beal trade may have set them back for several seasons.
