If the Phoenix Suns want to go ahead with a restructuring, they will have to deal with this long-standing contractual issue.
The Phoenix Suns are currently entering a new era in the history of the franchise. After their attempts to build a super team, they must work with patience in modifying their roster.
The Suns’ first step was to trade Kevin Durant for the Houston Rockets. Durant was their only tradable asset, and they made quite an overwhelming profit for him.
Using the 10th overall pick in the NBA Draft, the Suns selected Duke’s outstanding Kamanmaruach. However, amidst a confusing move, the Suns later trade for Mark Williams, who is also the center.
Having two starting quality players in the same position is a strange choice, especially considering the lack of depth in other positions. But perhaps the reconstruction team can afford to make this mistake.
But the rebuild can’t really begin without dealing with the Bradley Beal situation. Beal has no transaction clauses, but he accepts moves to the team he likes.
According to Mark Stein and Jake Fisher, the Phoenix Suns considered giving up Bradley Beal immediately, just like Damian Lillard.
However, in order to implement a method of abandonment and stretching, the Sons must somehow persuade Beal to abandon the $14 million of the salary he owes to meet the Sons salary cap.
“The growing expectations now are that the Suns could potentially end up buying Beal from a contract that includes one of two full trading clauses in the league…
“After Phoenix initially told the various candidates interviewed during a recent coaching search that they might have to start the season with roster beer.
“Unless Beal demoted at least $14 million from nearly $111 million left on the contract over the next two seasons, Phoenix will not have the payroll flexibility to employ a league abandonment and stretch offering on Beal Buyout, as Milwaukee was surprised with Damian Lillard.”
For the past year, Bradley Beal has held all his cards in his deal with the Phoenix Suns. Because he has no transaction clauses, the Sands cannot make any decisions regarding his future without his consent.
Beer has shown no willingness to compromise or meet up with Sands along the way. He doesn’t want to move, and if he has to, he wants it to be based on his terms.
So it is unlikely that he will make concessions when it comes to his salary and the money he owes to his contract.
$14 million is not a small amount, so Beal is within his right to decline the request that the team waives what they ow him.
But the more difficult Beal makes things, the longer his own career will continue to become.